Media: Shane

Shane Charity Match - Aug 2009

Westlife star makes local family's day

21 August 2009 – TWO Dundalk children took centre stage at a very special soccer game when one of the teams was fronted by Westlife's Shane Filan.

Three-year-old Francis Lynch and his sister Aoife (5), from the Mullaharlin Road, were mascots at the Westlife singer's charity match at the Sligo Showgrounds.

Mum and dad, Carmel and Francis, from the Mullaharlin Road, watched the game with their youngest daughter, five-month-old Alana, who also had the privilege of getting her bib signed by the Westlife heartthrob.

Filan arranged the game with League of Ireland side Sligo Rovers to help friends Ann Culkin, a HR consultant, and Hilary Jones, a beauty consultant, raise funds for a charity climb of Kilimanjaro in aid of the Irish Red Cross later this month.

And it was through these women that the Lynchs were offered the mascot job for Francis and Aoife. Carmel, a huge Westlife fan, said the whole family had a great time at the event.

'My sister is friends with one of the organisers and Francis and Aoife were asked to be mascots, which they jumped at,' she said.

'We got to meet Shane at the game and he was wonderful with us and the children.

'I have been to loads of Westlife concerts and even Aoife is a fan of theirs now, but this is the first time we got to meet any of them in person. He was really, really nice and very generous with his time. He even signed Alana's bib for her. Shane is very down to earth and it was exciting to meet him.'

Shane (30) fulfilled a childhood dream when he captained his father-inlaw's works team from a local junior astro-turf league against his heroes, Sligo Rovers.

And it was a dream come true when the singer scored the winning goal to finish the action-packed game 3-1 to the Filan XI.

Source: independent.ie – Anne Campbell

Filan scores for charity

12 August 2009 – Sligo Rovers 1 Shane Filan: IT PROVED to be a night to remember for the hundreds of Westlife and Sligo Rovers fans that turned up in The Showgrounds last Wednesday evening to watch an entertaining friendly between Sligo Rovers and a Shane Filan XI. XI 3

The popstar’s team won 3-1 and, fittingly, the affable celebrity, a talented rugby player and Gaelic footballer, in his teenage years scored his side’s third goal from the penalty spot late in the game.

The match was in aid of the Irish Red Cross and, specifically, locals Hilary Jones and Leslie-Ann Culkin who are heading off later this week to climb Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in order to raise funds for the charity.

Sligo Rovers used the game to give a run out to quite a number of their first team players, including their most recent signing, Darren Meenan.

The winger, who can also play as a main striker, was signed on deadline day and was previously with Finn Harps, Monaghan United and most recently Shelbourne.

Filan’s side featured a number of players from the Sligo Plumbing & Heating team that he plays with in the Sligo Astra League - a team set up by Brian Heraghty and Michael Walsh - and a number of former Sligo Rovers players such as Donagh Oates, Philip Gallagher, Sean Flannery and Keith Lynch.

Sligo Rovers dominated the first-half but failed to find a way past an inspired Cathal O’Loughlin, goalkeeper for the Shane Filan XI.

As well as being thwarted by O’Loughlin’s reactions, Sligo Rovers were denied by the woodwork on a number of occasions with Darren Meenan, Owen Morrison and Keith Duffy all having efforts come back off the frame of the goal.

Nine minutes into the second-half the Shane Filan XI took a shock lead. Sean Flannery got the better of his former Sligo Rovers team-mate, Gerry Carr, before getting the ball past Sligo Rovers goal-keeper Ciaran Kelly.

Their lead was short-lived - three minutes later and the sides were level thanks to a well-taken goal from Christopher Kelly.

Not even the introduction of Sligo Rovers manager Paul Cook could help turn the tide in favour of Sligo Rovers as the Shane Filan XI retook the lead in the 80th minute.

Filan was the provider as he set-up substitute Anthony Henneberry, who finished well.

The Shane Final XI wrapped up the win with the moment that most of the crowd had been waiting for. Shane Filan was fouled inside the penalty area in the 85th minute and referee Paul Deering awarded a spot-kick.

Filan, a life-long Sligo Rovers fan, made no mistake as he coolly finished from the spot to put the gloss on his side’s win. kick.

Sligo Rovers: Ciaran Kelly, Keith Duffy, Danny Keohane, Danny Ventre, Martin Camano, Michael McGrath, Darren Meenan, Christopher Kelly, Rob Turner, Dean Marshall, Owen Morrison Subs: Conor O’Grady, Barry O’Mahony, Gerry Carr, Paul Cook, Brian Cash, Eoin Doyle. kick.

Shane Filan XI: Cathal O’Loughlin, Ronan McNamara, Barry Sheerin, Vinny Nally, Neil Jones, Brian Heraghty, Paul Keaveney, Keith Lynch, Michael Walsh, Shane Filan, Sean Flannery Subs: Donagh Oates, Philip Gallagher, Ryan Casey, Anthony Henneberry, Justin Dykes, Kelvin McGowan, Craig Walsh, Mark Cunningham, Damien McSharry.

Source: Sligo Weekender - Keith O’Dwyer

Scanned Article

07 August 2009 – Thanks to Katrin for scanning the following article from The Irish Sun.

Source: Irish Sun. Credits: Katrin at The Committed.

Shane scores the winning goal in charity match against his childhood idols Rovers

07 August 2009 - Westlife superstar Shane Filan wowed fans with his fancy footwork when he scored the winning goal in a charity football match against his childhood heroes, Sligo Rovers on Wednesday.

The multi-millionaire heart-throb fulfilled a childhood dream when he captained his father-in-law's works team from a local junior astro-turf league before a crowd of 500 at the Sligo Showgrounds.

"I actually find this quite exciting. I've followed Sligo Rovers all my life and I never thought I would get to play a game against them," he said before kick-off.

"To do it at the Showgrounds is an added thrill. It's what every kid in Sligo wants to do."

And he even managed to score the winning goal from a penalty against the Eircom League side in the action-packed game which ended with a 3-1 win for 'Filan's Eleven'.

After a goal-free first half, Shane's team went one up when his co-striker, former Rovers star Sean Flannery, scored - but just two minutes later, Rovers equalised.

Following a 20-yard driving run down the middle by Shane, his pass to Anthony Hennebery was netted in the 80th minute to put his side 2-1 ahead. But Shane sealed victory when he scored from the penalty spot in the closing minutes.

Earlier, the 30-year-old beamed proudly as he jogged out sporting the striker's Number 9 jersey, after jetting in from London, where Westlife are working on their next album, just hours earlier.

He arranged the game with League of Ireland side Rovers to help pals Ann Culkin, a 26-year-old HR consultant, and Hilary Jones (27), a beauty consultant, raise funds for a charity climb of Africa's highest mountain, Kilimanjaro, in aid of the Irish Red Cross later this month.

His Night Owls' League team, named the Sligo Plumbing and Heating Company, included four former Rovers players.

The youngest fan at the game was five-month-old Alana Lynch, who travelled from Dundalk with her parents, Francis and Carmel, friends of the organisers.

Alana's brother Francis (3) and sister Aoife (5) were official mascots for Shane's side as he led his squad on to the pitch.

Source: herald.ie - Anita Guidera

Sligo Rovers Match

06 August 2009: Thanks to Marksbabe18 for the news that Shane’s team won 3-1 with Shane scoring one penalty. Well done Shane.

And here is a link to watch a clip of Shane in action. Click here to view.

Source: westlife forum. Credits: Marksbabe18.

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