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30th Aug 2017

PICS: Six boys from Westmeath ditched their debs dates to play championship football instead

Nothing beats being there.

JOE

They’ve got their priorities straight.

Do you love your club as much as John Mullane loves his county of Waterford? To what extent would you go to in order to play a match?

Would you miss a night out? Would you give a family occasion the hump?

How about not attending your own debs?

Well, these lads from Mullingar in Westmeath traded their suits for their studs and headed down to play a vital championship football match and left their dates on their ownsome.

Pictured from left to right: Eoin Fallon, Sean Lyster, Jamie Rooney, Ned Cully, Jerry Byrne, Enda Cully.

To give some background, as bad luck would have it, the fourth round of the intermediate championship in Westmeath was fixed for the same night as the debs.

Much to the annoyance of their debs dates though, the boys from St. Mary’s GAA Club in Rochfortbridge decided that the football match came first.

There was just enough time for a few photos and the passing over of a corsage before the lads headed off to the game.

Even after paying €75 for a ticket, the lads missed out on the bus and the dinner in an act that just shows the sacrifice club players have to make for the love of their jersey.

Sally Gorman who was on hand to take the photos of the six together told JOE that: “The lads did make an appearance to the ball in Swords later that evening and received a warm welcome from all…except their dates.”

“I have photos of the lads wearing their jerseys under their suits as they posed for pictures before heading off to play their match.

“They were in the doghouse for days.”

Good news. The boys have since reached the semi-final of the championship and are hard at training for the September fixture.

Was it worth it though? Maybe we should ask the girls.

Cheers to Sally Gorman for sending this our way. Got a story for JOE? Hit us up on Facebook or Twitter, send it to our WhatsApp number 087-4001102 or mail [email protected].