Cash-strapped soccer side strip for funds

A promotion-chasing west Cork team is scoring with the fans by dropping their pants.

While the players are keeping an eye on the calendar for their planned return to the Premier League, supporters are also getting an eyeful of the rising Dunmanway Town side.

The green-and-white hoops team showed its true colour by posing in full gear for a new calendar promotion. But most of the squad also stripped to show off some of their finer assets.

"We were in the Premier League and dropped down to Division One," said Dunmanway Town's PRO John Buckley. "We're determined to prove we're not a flash-in-the-pan.We secured about 2,000 for the advertising surrounding the calendar which is a great boost to our coffers."

A second print run may have to be considered as some of the club's strikers and defenders are becoming pin-ups.

"It has created a great stir, you could say, in some of the pubs and other hostelries. It was all done in the best of taste and the most of the squad was good-humoured about it.

"A few dropped out of the full monty photo and are possibly regretting the decision since the calendar is going down a bomb in local pubs."

Winning two of the last four games will secure the hoops' side promotion.

"Judging by the attitude of the players and particular their calendar pic, they've the boot on the other leg now. They're on the ball and geared to stay up when we return to the Premier League," John said.