Lord of the Rings star to the rescue

“Yeah look, it was a surreal moment especially after the year before, winning the AllIreland, it was literally what dreams are made of.

“To win it the way we did, in the last minute of a really tight and exciting game, I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.

“We worked so, so hard for it. It’s probably five years in the making since Robbie came in.

Discussing the controversy following the win, Shane added: “There was no animosity from my part towards the Glen, there was no animosity on the pitch. We had dinner afterwards. It was a great game, they are a great side.

“I think Mannion and a few of the other lads know a couple of lads on their team, and there is complete respect there.

“After it all blew up, we were out on the town on Monday night and I think we saw it on Prime Time… it had blown up way more than we ever thought it would and I suppose by the Tuesday or the Wednesday it was a bit draining, as this was all you were being asked about.

“But look, it was sorted out in the end, and looking back on it, it didn’t take away from it one bit for me.”

FORMER Eurovision winner

Linda Martin said she has been left “penniless” by her dream of building a new dog sanctuary in Dublin.

The singer — who has been a campaigner for animal welfare — has been working on the project for the past two years. She has also adopted 13 rescue dogs in the past.

The sanctuary is being launched by Lord of the Rings star Ian McKellen. The actor is in Dublin to appear in Mother Goose at the Bord Gais Theatre.

“I’ve been involved with animal welfare for pretty much all my life. With the Dublin pound closed just over two years ago, there was nowhere for animals to go in the city centre,” she said.

It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. I wanted a dog shelter for a long time,” she said.

“I’m excited at the moment, but sometimes I feel like crying because there’s so much to do and there’s so much involved in it. Ian McKellen agreed to open it for me.”

The DSPCA this week said it has seen a drastic increase in the number of dogs, cats, and other animals, such as rabbits and ferrets, being left into its facility in Rathfarnham.