Wags take on Nags in aid of Offaly Hospice

Some 44 women over the age of 40 will line out in Mucklagh on Sunday for a 'Wags v Nags' charity football match in a bid to raise funds for Offaly Hospice. One of the ladies involved is Cathaoirleach of Tullamore Town Council and wife of legendary Offaly hurler Johnny Dooley, Sineád Dooley, who this week encouraged locals to turn out in support of, not only the ladies involved, but also Offaly Hospice. Final teams won't be revealed until Sunday, but the game will feature players including All-Ireland winner Phylis Price, Dolores Kelly, Mary Duffy, Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose O'Toole, Pamela Mooney, Vera Clavin, Dorothy Condron-Heffernan and Rahan sisters Mary and Martina Larkin. Banisteoirs in charge on the day will be Tony McTague and Willie Bryan. Although the ladies involved all played football at minor or underage level in Offaly, Sineád admitted this week that "90% of us wouldn't have kicked a football in 20 years". Some 20 of the 44 players getting set for Sunday are going to have a slight advantage, however, after completing a ten-week training programme with match sponsor Aura Leisure Centre in Tullamore. "They really took us under their wing," Sineád said, adding that the core group who have completed the fitness training are mostly mothers who in the past have put their families first and let their own fitness deteriorate. "Certainly we'd find ourselves a lot fitter," she said this week, adding that the group is hoping to continue the ladies only fitness sessions after this weekend's match. The group is also hoping to work with Croke Park's new football for mums initiative to see it introduced in Offaly. Feeling "a lot fitter" is the extent of fighting talk you'll get ahead of this game from Sineád, who in the past lined out at full back and full forward positions. This weekend she's taking the full back role on, but is also contending with an ankle injury. "It's a tendon, which I never got before," she explained. "It'll be heavily strapped. "To expect to be able to go back playing is ambitious," she continued. "Even if I have to go in goals I'm playing," she added. The big question of course is who will line out for the Nags and who will be classed as Wags. "We've still to disclose who are the Wags and who are the Nags," Sineád said. "My good husband tells me I started out a wag and turned into a nag!" After the 3pm game, medals sponsored by Supermac's will be presented to the winning team before everyone retires to Kelly's Roadhouse for finger food, a raffle and music provided free of charge by Brendan Keeley from 5pm until 6.30pm. Tickets to Sunday's event cost just €5. Tickets cover entry to both the game and post-match entertainment and will be available on the day.