St Malachy's GAC of Belfast captured the Antrim JFC title last Sunday but the celebrations were tinged with sadness.

Formed in 1936, St Malachy's claimed the silverware for the first time since 2005 courtesy of a 3-2 to 0-8 victory over St Congall's at Ahoghill.

The success arrived six days after one of their players, Thomas Rice, tragically laid his twin daughters - Eimear and Eireann - to rest.

Thomas' team-mates and the club rallied around him and he went on to show remarkable strength and courage to play in the final.

A team meeting was called in the week approaching the game and all concerned decided that they would do everything in their power to win this for Thomas, his family and Eimear and Eireann.

They turned out on Sunday for the game and every player in the squad had an 'F' written in marker on their right calf.

Nobody except the team realised the significance of this until their captain, Anthony Dobbin, gave his speech after being presented with the trophy.

Anthony went on to explain that the team decided at the meeting that they had one common bond and goal, they would win this for Thomas. He went on to explain that the 'F' simply stood for family.

When Anthony then presented the trophy to Thomas and dedicated the victory to Eimear and Eireann, it brought a tear to the eye of every person standing there.

It was a simple gesture from Thomas' team-mates which epitomises the GAA as a whole, a family sport which means more than just turning up.

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