Oisín: Bookmaker’s sponsorship ‘not ideal’

FORMER Armagh footballer Oisín McConville, who highlighted his chronic gambling problem in his autobiography and who now counsels addicts, says it is far from ideal that his club is now being sponsored by a bookmaker.

McConville was widely acclaimed for the manner in which he disclosed his gambling problems in ‘The Gambler’ and there was considerable surprise when his hugely successful club, Crossmaglen Rangers, the reigning All-Ireland champions, took a bookmakers firm on board as its main sponsor.

Crossmaglen Rangers is one of the most successful clubs in the country, capturing 13 Armagh titles in-a-row up to 2008, before regaining their crown last year and going on to win their fifth All-Ireland club title.