Youghal on the ball as blindfold soccer kicks off

For once, there will be a valid excuse for failing to find your teammate with a ball pass.

Two blindfolded teams will play each other this weekend on a day of fundraising, overseen by FAI boss John Delaney.

Floodlights at Ardrath Park, home of Youghal United AFC, were damaged in the February storms and the club will hold a day-long fundraiser to pay for repairs.

Taking the two colours synonymous with the club, each of the club’s 13 teams will be split evenly into two sides — the Clarets and the Sky Blues.

First up on Sunday will be seven-a-side matches on the club’s newly re-surfaced all-weather pitch. Each game will finish with a penalty shoot-out and crossbar challenge.

Teams will earn three points for a win, one point for a draw, two points for a crossbar hit, and one point for a penalty.

Then, in a match they might have to call Youghal ball, the junior and senior panels play each other blindfolded, before a legends’ game featuring past-players wraps up the on-pitch activity. At that stage the points gathered over the day will be added together to see which side — the Clarets or the Sky Blues — come out on top.

To add more excitement a perpetual cup will be awarded by FAI chief executive John Delaney to the winning side, with a raffle giving visitors a chance to win two VIP tickets to the Ireland v Turkey match at the Aviva Stadium on May 25.

Youghal United AFC was founded in 1985 and the club’s chairman, Damien O’Brien, said the day of fundraising would allow the community to get involved.

“After the recent storm damage to our floodlights, the club’s committee came up with the idea of the Clarets v Sky Blues Fundraising Day as a way to bring all our members together to raise funds as well as have a bit of fun,” he said.

Anyone looking for updates ahead of the event can check the club’s Facebook page and Twitter account.