Gaelic football: Chester recruitment consultant misses out against Skellig Rangers in Junior All Ireland final

Feb 27 2009 by Alec Doyle, Chester Chronicle

STANDING in front of 20,000 singing fans at Dublin’s Croke Park, Shaun Carter realised a childhood dream.

Never mind that his team lost 10-9 to Skellig Rangers in the Junior All-Ireland final.

Shaun, who works in the city centre for Chester recruitment firm GAP Technical, said: “What an amazing experience

‘Despite only losing by a narrow margin, playing on the pitch at Croke Park fulfilled a childhood dream.

“We had a police escort to the stadium, so by the time we got out there, the lads and I were on top of the world.”

The game was always going to be a David v Goliath contest, as Shaun’s team – Liverpool-based John Mitchel, the first non-Irish side ever to reach the final – played Skellig, whose home county of Kerry is likened to Brazil in football for producing great Gealic football players and teams. However, the underdogs almost won it in the end.

“Losing was a big disappointment,” said Belfast-born Shaun, 28. “But just having the opportunity to play at Croke Park, in front of thousands, has made me feel like a winner!”