Drop goal: Good deed scores high with fans

A BAND of 16 rugby supporters will be thanking the goodwill of a couple who found their tickets on a city street when they take their seats for Ireland’s Six Nations opener in Croke Park tomorrow.

The tickets were in an envelope which Brian McMahon thought had been stolen from him until news of their discovery appeared on the front of yesterday’s Evening Echo.

Callie O’Donoghue from Bishopstown in Cork spotted the package on the pavement as she was walking on Liberty Street in the city centre with her husband Paul around 7pm on Tuesday.

“We rang the gardaí to let them know we had found them in case anyone called. We got onto the paper and put a notice on a couple of websites, and I made calls to a few people I know involved in rugby to put the word out,” said Paul.

“By 3.30pm we got a call and Brian came out to collect the tickets. I think he was mightily relieved but he was also very generous and brought a bottle of wine and has given €100 for the charity of our choice,” he said.

Not alone will Mr McMahon and the other ticket owners be relieved, but Down Syndrome Ireland will also be pleased with an addition to their fundraising coffers. Paul chose the group to benefit from the donation as he has friends with children who have Down syndrome.

He would love to be at the game against Italy tomorrow afternoon but is glad that nobody has been left disappointed.

“I’d like to think if I dropped my wallet or lost something valuable that someone would come forward,” he said.

The face value of the tickets for the sold-out rugby game is believed to be around €1,200.

But the joy of getting them back for the owners must surely be priceless.