This article is from page 37 of the 2008-09-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 37 JPG
IT started off as a bit of friendly ban- ter between old friends yet ten years on the rivalry remains as keen as oe
Avenue Ramblers and the Chelsea Supporter’s club have been playing for the Marian Avenue Cup for al- most a decade.
The rivalry has always been a friendly one and the game has al- ways been about highlighting the good work of a particular charity or cause. The results have swayed back and forth and each side has enjoyed their share of the bragging rights.
The latest chapter unfolds in the Fair Green in October when the sides
meet to mark the fixture’s tenth anni- versary. The winners will play Moro- ney’s Bar in the final for the cup.
Jacko McMahon lives in Marian Avenue and has been involved with the fixture from the start, donning the jersey of Avenue Ramblers.
He’s already on the lookout for play- ers who have been involved down the years and is calling on them to lace up their boots again.
“There are a lot of guys out there that would have played in the last ten years. I’ll be hoping to get them out on the pitch again,’ explained Jacko.
The game may have originated as a kick-around between friends, but aligned to the fun of competition, is a more serious side. Over the years,
the game has raised money for a wide variety of charity groups and organisations, both local and nation- al, including Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and local adult education projects.
“Tt sort of started off like that,’ ex- plained Jacko. ““We wanted to raise a bit of money for charity. Over the years we’ve raised a bit for different groups. The lads have always been generous about it. The game is al- ways a bit of craic, but its good there has been that part to it too.”
Side by side with Jacko on the foot- ball and the fundraising front, has been Jim McMahon. Jim, like Jacko has been involved with the fixture from the start, but on the pitch, Jim
wears the blue of the Chelsea Sup- porters Club.
Jim recently took on the Reeks Challenge – climbing ten peaks of the McGillycuddy Reeks in Kerry – to raise money for St Luke’s Hospi- tal, Dublin. As part of the fundrais- ing drive, Avenue Ramblers took on the Chelsea Supporters Club. It was close that day with the Ramblers just edging it on penalties. Both sides are already looking forward to the re- match.