Irishman Garbhan Coughlan celebrated St Patrick's Day with a hattrick for the Southern United soccer team today.
The hattrick came in Southern United's 3-1 ISPS Handa Premiership victory against Hawke's Bay United in the final match of the season for both teams. A professional at his home club of Limerick, striker Coughlan, is playing his first season in New Zealand and has scored six goals in his last four games.
"Considering our travel arrangements I was delighted with the victory and if other results go our way this weekend we could finish fifth," Southern United coach Paul O'Reilly said.
He was referring to the fact his troops had to wake up at 4.30am today to catch a flight from Dunedin to Wellington where they caught a connecting flight to Napier.
"The boys were out on their feet at the end of the match. Every one of them deserves praise for their contribution to the effort," O'Reilly said.