THE KEEPERS CUP, held in memory of former football club member Pauric Brady, will take place on Sunday 26 July at 11am at Baltinglass Town AFC.
Pauric was a goalkeeper for both the football club and Baltinglass GAA Club until he sadly passed away from cancer at just 19 years of age.
“He loved his sport: from morning to night that’s all he thought about,” said Pauric’s mum Avril. “And everything had to be done 100%.”
The tournament was started before he died, when a group of Pauric’s dad’s friends got a few teams together to raise some money for Pauric to enjoy himself.
“It was a final hurrah, for him to get out and meet everybody. He had a great laugh at it,” said Avril.
Pauric passed away three years ago, on 19 July 2023.
Now in its third year
The football tournament, continued by chairman Paddy Barry, is now in its third year and continues to grow bigger and better each year. There will be ten players this year – “the most we’ve ever had”, according to Avril.
Football players from clubs across the region, Pauric’s extended family, friends and the local community will all be there next weekend, but Avril promised that they don’t take the competition too seriously.
“It’s only a bit of craic, to remember Pauric and raise a bit of money,” said Avril.
This year, JP Nolan Sport is selling jerseys and hoodies commemorating Pauric to raise additional funds.
All the proceeds from the event and the hoodies will be donated to Éist Cancer Support Centre Carlow, who supported the family after Pauric passed away.
“I don’t know where we would have been without them,” said Avril.
