O’Meara postpones big day but still hopes to party

Today was going to be a milestone date in the life of Coolderry’s Brendan O’Meara, a day long in the planning when he would finally walk up the aisle with his beloved, Jessica Kennedy from nearby Lorrha.

Ah, but the best-laid plans o’ mice and men — all gone by the board now, all changed. The reason? Tomorrow Brendan and the team he captains, Coolderry of Offaly, will take the field in Croke Park to play Loughgiel Shamrocks from the Antrim glens in an All-Ireland Club SHC final. In the life of a club hurler — and everyone in hurling is a club hurler first and last — there isn’t a bigger date on the calendar.

The wedding? In a clash such as this there was going to be only one winner.