Celebrity Bainisteoir training session with Jessica Lawlor speaking tactics with boyfriend Stephen Ireland at Ballinora GAA. Picture: Clare Keogh

Ballinora’s footballers had their first full training session with their Celebrity Bainisteoir Jessica Lawlor last night, and her partner Stephen Ireland was on hand to help out.

A large crowd of supporters and locals gathered to watch the session and the premiership footballer posed for pictures and signed autographs for fans.
On the field Jessica put the team through their paces in a series of drills in preparation for their first game of the television series next month. Ballinora’s John Brosnan, who is liaising with the Celebrity Bainisteoir crew said the players really enjoyed the session.
“Jessica is getting on great with the team and they have already bonded a bit. She Stephen Ireland arrived too which was a nice surprise. He helped out and gave advice on what drills to do. He told me he really enjoyed playing hurling and football before he left Cobh when he was 15,” John said.
“The club supporters also got to enjoy one of the first dry evenings in a long time to watch the session.”
Jessica, a native of Birmingham who moved to Carrigaline at age 13, is up against celebrities like Calum Best; Paddy Doherty, the star of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding; Pippa O’Connor and Brian Ormond; and Mary Byrne, the former X-Factor finalist, and model Rozanna Purcell.
On Tuesday Jessica will face off in a challenge in Dublin against Rozanna who is managing Longford side Newtowncashel. The winner will have home advantage for the match.