Tails up: Super sub Bo gives Ardboe bite

The remarkable tale of the football-mad dog came to a happy end at the weekend.

Bo, a two-year-old toy poodle, became the first dog to win a championship medal when he lined out for his local GAA club.

The four-legged friend of the Ardboe minor team was part of the squad that won the Tyrone Championship, and was listed among the subs on the match programme.

Bo was a mascot when Ardboe won the title last year, and became so attached to the players that he was called up as an official panel member for this season’s decider against Errigal Ciarán. His owner, Benny Hurl, a member of the Ardboe management team, said the family pet displayed an immediate love for the game on his arrival at the football-mad household as a playful puppy.

“He’ll not come to the Hurl house without being able to play football, and I think he has brought us a bit of luck. Now he’s got his medal,” said Hurl.

Bo wasn’t called into the action as Ardboe got the better of rivals Errigal Ciarán by 2-13 to 0-7 at O’Neill Park in Dungannon. But he did show a keen eye (and a leg) for the posts during the half-time kickabout.