GAA club appeals for return of stolen mannequin ahead of Sunday's final

An Athboy GAA club has appealed for the safe return of its 'lucky' mannequin after it was stolen following the historic All-Ireland ladies SFC final win over Dublin last year.

Clann na Ngael Ladies Football and Camogie decided to make the plea for the mascot dubbed Sheila ahead of this Sunday's final in Croke Park where Meath go head to head again once more, this time with Kerry.

Assistant secretary Hilary Smith who came up with the idea says she placed the mannequin who was dressed head to toe in the royal colours complete with county flags and a sign with an arrow to Croke Park at the crossroads of the main Navan/ Athboy Road to show support for the ladies team last year but was stunned when she realised it had been swiped.

"We had her for the Ladies All Ireland last year and someone robbed her from our crossroads," she said.

"She was there for a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden she was gone!

"We have no idea what happened to her. Everybody commented on her that went by the crossroads, we had her on the main Navan, Athboy Road, she got a lot of attention."

Hilary describes the events leading up to the disappearance.

"I went up about a week and a half after the final last year, I said I better take her down and I discovered she was missing.

"We had her drilled in with snap ties and metal brackets to the fence, she was quite secure so someone went to a lot of bother to move her.

"We thought someone did it as a joke and would come back with her but we never saw her again, it's a mystery."

"Maybe she'll show up at the match!"

Clann na Ngael's Orlagh Lally and Ali Sherlock will be lining out for the Meath Ladies team on Sunday and Hilary is asking that anyone with information come forward so Sheila can act as a lucky charm for the team once again.

"The Meath Ladies won the All Ireland final last year so she definitely brought them luck.

"There is great excitement in the town having both Orlagh and Ali playing on Sunday. We want Sheila to guide them on the road again.

"We are appealing for her return for this year's final, we want her reinstated at the crossroads where she belongs."