A bridegroom said I do to his GAA team just hours after his wedding in order to play in a Premier four Division final last weekend
Stephen Tierney (32) missed the warm-up but turned up with his new wife and son in support, to help his Oldcastle GFC team mates secure a dramatic win against Blackhall Gaels in Navan's Pairc Tailteann on Sunday.
After getting married on Saturday, the full-forward took his place on the pitch to a round of applause the next day in a match which ended in a one point difference to Oldcastle at 0-09 to 1.05
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After his team won the semi-final last Monday night, he had assumed the final wouldn't take place for a few weeks, when his wedding was over, but said he was 'disappointed' when it was scheduled for Sunday last.
He and his girlfriend of ten years Jennifer Donohoe (30) had arranged the wedding 15 months ago to get married in her home church of Mullagh, Co. Cavan with the reception in nearby Crover House Hotel and five of his team mates were invited.
"We haven't won the final for a good few years but we were unassuming but quietly confident that we might do it this year," said the Oldcastle native
"We only won the semi-final against Moynalvey on Monday night so I thought the final would be a few weeks away and when I heard the fixture was for Sunday, I was disappointed
"I thought initially that of course I couldn't go but then when I saw it was at 1pm, I thought that might be doable but how do I approach it with Jennifer," he laughed
"I told her that I'd only go if she and our 18 month son Luke would go too as I wanted a picture of him with the cup if we won
"We didn't realise how much sorting it would take in the hotel the next day and we weren't in bed until 5am so by the time we got to Navan, I had missed the warm up.
"Luckily I got on for the second half and the commentator quipped that it could be the end of the marriage as well as the start.
"I did take the wedding ring off in the dressing room but I won't be doing that again in a hurry because I didn't realise how hard it would be to get it back on
"We were playing against a strong wind but as soon as I saw the ball leave the boot of Garrett O'Reilly, I knew it was over the bar and we had possibly won.
"It was some buzz to win and capped off the wedding for me because so many people were so generous to us and I'd like to thank also the lads from Blackhall Gaels who congratulated me on my wedding as well as winning the game.
"Jennifer and I had arranged to meet up with family and a few friends for the second day of the wedding and we were a bit late but I was having a few drinks in the pub in Mullagh when two bus loads pulled up with the lads and supporters and the cup. They had come over the border into Cavan with the cup to me on the first night of getting it, which meant an awful lot.
"I'm just a fella who got married and was lucky enough to be able to be with his team to win a final the next day."
