Galwayman beats over eight million to win global Fantasy Football crown
A soccer nut with impeccable Galway roots is this week celebrating his success in seeing off more than eight million competitors to win the Premier League’s global Fantasy Football competition – on the weekend he should have been heading off on honeymoon.
Liverpool supporter Michael Coone had his favourite team’s star striker Sadio Mane to thank for his incredible success, after the Senegal international scored twice to take him to the top of the final leader board.
The new FPL champion had chosen Mane as his fantasy team captain – thus doubling his points total – as he saw turned a nine point deficit for his Teddy Bears United into a five point victory on a dramatic final day.
Now as the 2020/21 Fantasy Premier League champion, Michael can look forward to a seven-night break in the UK including VIP hospitality at two 2021/22 Premier League matches – and a host of other prizes.
Michael’s dad, Pat, hails from Mullagh and his mother, Monica’s roots are in neighbouring Tommy Larkins; indeed his uncle is Gerry Coone, who enjoyed a distinguished career in the maroon of Galway, scoring six points in the county’s 1975 All-Ireland Final defeat at the hands of Kilkenny.
And although Michael now lives and works in Dublin, he always regards Galway as home.
“Dad worked in Tynagh mines, and when that closed he got a job in Tara – so that’s why we moved to Meath. After he retired, mam and dad moved back home, and they live in Portumna – halfway between Mullagh and Tommy Larkins!” he said.
Despite his success as a soccer pundit, hurling would remain the family’s first love; his cousin Finian hurls with Mullagh and – as Michael says – the family would have been Galway hurling season ticket holders through the years.
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