Late goal seals victory for Team Charli-Mae in charity clash at Oriel Park

Oriel Park played host to a charity match on Saturday afternoon, as the Charli-Mae Shield brought together Dundalk FC Legends and Team Charli-Mae in aid of Féileacáin.

Despite the Dundalk Legends dominating the first half and showing flashes of their former brilliance, it was Team Charli-Mae who walked away with the honours, snatching a dramatic 1-0 win thanks to a late strike from captain Gary McCrudden.

The Legends side, captained by Stefan McKevitt and managed by Darius Kierans with assistance from Mark Rossiter, controlled much of the early proceedings.

Former fan favourites rolled back the years, carving out several golden chances. But standing between them and the scoreboard was Team Charli-Mae goalkeeper Dan Shields, who produced a string of superb saves to keep the game level.

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Team Charli-Mae, managed by Republic of Ireland U19 boss Tom Mohan and assistant Mick Neville, found their rhythm in the second half, showing grit and determination as the match wore on.

Their perseverance paid off late in the game when Gary McCrudden found space in the box and tapped home a composed finish.

While the result provided a thrilling ending to the afternoon, the real victory lay off the pitch. Through the Charlie-Mae Foundation, Dean Arrowsmith has helped raise over €30,000 to date in support of Féileacáin — with over €6,000 of that coming in ahead of Saturday’s match alone.

The charity, which supports families affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy, continues to make a profound difference to lives across Ireland.