Victor's wish comes true as Ratoath and Magheracloone youngsters play for stricken Monaghan club funds

Louise Walsh

Eight under sevens teams lined out in Meath to realise a seven year old's thoughtful wish to help raise funds for the Monaghan club who have permanently lost their grounds due to a sinkhole.

Magheracloone Mitchells GAA team are now looking for a new home after they revealed they will never be able to access their pitches, dressing rooms or even equipment again.

Clubs from all over the country have rowed in to help the homeless side, with many offering some of their own funding from the recent €3.2 million donation given to the GAA nationwide by JP McManus.

As they start from scratch, they've been given a helping hand from today's charity game between Magheracloone Mitchells and Ratoath GAA at the Meath club's venue.

 

 

 

The new founded friendship was started last month when Victor Clarke melted hearts when he wrote to his own club to suggest the match.

The letter said: "Dear Ratoath GAA Club, I play for the Ratoath Under 7s

"Did you hear about Magheracloone GAA pitch?

"Can Ratoath Under 7s play their Under 7s in a charity match?  I think it would help get money for their new club

"Ratoath are going to be Meath VS Magheracloone will be Monaghan.  Let me know."

Both clubs got together after the letter went viral and organised the Saturday match which was sponsored by local businesses.

Beko Ireland presented the U7 Magheracloone with new team jerseys just before kick-off.

The Monaghan club admits to being 'overwhelmed' by the sentiments and generosity of both Victor and the Ratoath club and all clubs nationally.

"We would like to say a huge thank you to Victor and his brother Nicholas and Ratoath GAA for their outstanding support and I can honestly say, that it looks like the two clubs will be twinned from now on," said Magheracloone Mitchells PRO Orla Hughes.

"The club presented Ratoath with a plaque as a sign of our thanks and the two boys have been given a Magheracloone Mitchells jersey each."

Sean Egan, Magheracloone Registrar said: "This was the biggest Meath Monaghan clash ever and no words can describe what Victor and his family and the club have done for us.

"This just shows that the young people of Ireland, embodied by Victor and Nicholas do think of others and it reflects so well on their family and club.

"The club has been totally and utterly blown away by messages of help.  Clubs have even offered us part of or all of their funding from the JP McManus donation.

"Our club is gone.  The pitches won't be played on again and it looks like the community centre, the dressing rooms, the handball alley all won't be used again.

"Any and all facilities are inaccessible and we can't even get our gear, footballs, bibs, hoops, jerseys which are all behind the locked barrier.

"We've lost our home but we'll get a new one and we're confident we will have a new home in the next five years," he said.