WEXFORD lad Ryan Furlong got to meet his sporting hero last week when he was a mascot at a Premiership soccer match.

Ryan (9) from Mount Prospect, Clonard, was a mascot at the Wolves-Liverpool clash at Molineux, where he met the Wolves manager, Mick McCarthy, and the team, including his favourite player, Kevin Doyle.

The sports-mad Kennedy Park pupil, who lines out with Wexford Albion, was entered for the chance to be a Wolves mascot by his uncle Casey Whelan, a supporter of the club from the English midlands.

Ryan, also a keen footballer, hurler and athlete, was then one of the lucky winners, with Casey informing his delighted nephew on Christmas Day.

He was 'over the moon' when told of his impending mascot duties, according to his mother Naomi. 'The countdown on the calendar started from then.'

The big night finally arrived on Tuesday of last week when Ryan and his dad, Stephen, set off for the Molineux Stadium.

He met the Wolves team, their manager Mick McCarthy and star striker Kevin Doyle, who proved to be his usual courteous and friendly self, extending a warm welcome to the young visitor.

'He sat down with Kevin, who knew he was from Wexford, and had a good chat with him about where he plays football and where he goes to school,' said Naomi. ' It's the first proper match that he's been to and he said it was quiet in the tunnel and then the referee said it was game on and the crowd just erupted as they walked out. He told me "I got shivers when the crowd started screaming and shouting."'

She also revealed that Ryan is a Liverpool fan, but as a mascot for Wolves and with Kevin Doyle lining out up front for them he had divided loyalties!