The Last Man and Woman standing are ...

The Champagne bubble are flowing in Ballymore once again. Back in 1993 when Derry were on their winning run that saw the team land the county's first and only All-Ireland title, manager Eamonn Coleman loved to tease the journalists by telling them 'Yeez boys know nothing about football'. We can't accuse John Cunningham in this manner (although John's recent political predictions weren't as good!) as the Ballymore GAA man-of-many-parts emerged as the winner of the Shamrocks Last Man Standing competition for the second time in three years with a few postponed matches and two rounds to spare. This time John shares the victory podium with his wife Breda.

The fundraiser came to an unexpectedly speedy conclusion on Sunday afternoon. Only fourteen entrants out of 399 had reached round five but Sligo’s narrow win against Wexford on Saturday evening saw Senator Paul Daly eliminated on the 5th count. Tang youngster Oisin Conway joined him and Dublin’s defeat resulted in Cathy McEnerney leaving the competition. Leitrim’s three goal salvo away to Louth on Sunday afternoon was bad news for Paddy Colleary, Declan Lynam, Ritchie O’ Donoghue, JJ Derrig and John Aughey and son and daughter duo Billy Boyle and Aoife saw both their hopes dashed by Waterford’s comeback against Carlow (O Ye of Little Faith in Waterford football). Clare’s surprise victory away to table toppers Cavan was bad news for Longford’s Jason McCabe and Holly McCormack and suddenly there were only two contenders for the €300 first prize. Popular Ballymore man John ‘Bubbles’ Cunningham and his wife Breda had the distinction of being our last two entries still standing. Both John and Breda had the same entries for rounds six and seven of the league and therefore the adjudicators were able to declare them joint winners of the competition.

Congratulations to John and Breda with Des Maguire the seller of both winning entries and thanks to all those who supported the fundraiser. Thanks too to the adjudicators Paddy Colleary, Manus Kelly and Theo Kelly who eagerly scrutinised each entry every Saturday and Sunday evening over the past six weeks.

Thanks also to Barry Kelly for the regular press releases.

All together now with Meat Loaf 'Two Out of Three Ain't Bad'.