SHERIFF YC WILL have a member of the Love/Hate cast on their side for this afternoon’s FAI Junior Cup final at Lansdowne Road.
Actor Laurence Kinlan, best known as Elmo from the popular RTE series which tells the story of gangland Dublin, will be present to cheer on his former club who face rivals Kilbarrack United at 1.30pm as part of a double header with the international friendly between Ireland v Georgia following the game.
Kinlan wore the green and white of Sheriff for many years and has traveled as far as Limerick to watch them on the road to the final as he still has plenty of friends on the team.
“I’m absolutely buzzing for Sunday,” he said. “It’s a huge game and a great chance for Sheriff to win back-to-back FAI Junior Cups and the game couldn’t have asked for a bigger stage than the Aviva.
I played all of my football at Sheriff with a few decent medals to show for it. I was always a right winger, never really played anywhere else. I have a Premier A winners medal, which is a highlight and a 90th minute winning header against local rivals East Wall back in the day in a league game. I’m not bad in the air, don’t let my height fool you!”
“I’ve loads of mates still playing so I try to see as many games as possible and would love to see them do the business at the Aviva on Sunday. Look out for Chicken Kane on the wing!
“Not only would I love to be out there, even as a water boy, every other player in Junior football would love to be there and play a cup final at the Aviva stadium.”
The match sees two of Irish junior soccer’s fiercest rivalries reignited as holders Sheriff lock horns with Kilbarrack, who were on the receiving end of a 3-1 defeat in last year’s final.
Watch the finalists meet the Irish team this week:
YouTube credit: aviva
The FAI Junior Cup Final between Kilbarrack United and Sheriff YC takes place at 1.30m on Sunday at the Aviva Stadium before Ireland’s senior International friendly against Georgia at 5.30pm. Tickets for the double header are available from Ticketmaster.ie at €20 for adults and €10 for children.
