On the ball fan pays 8,500 for Slam tickets

A DUBLIN woman yesterday paid 8,500 for two tickets for Ireland’s Grand Slam showdown with England.

With interest in the game at fever pitch, Ann Higgins secured her seats for one of the biggest games of the year during a charity auction on the Marian Finucane Show. Sports presenter Des Cahill, who was standing in for Marian yesterday, auctioned the tickets to raise money for the Special Olympics, which will be held in Ireland this summer.

Thousands of messages of goodwill have been flowing into the Irish team's HQ to encourage Brian O'Driscoll and his team to record their place in history.