When the time and venue for Mayo's Connacht JFC final against Galway was announced, the Leonard family faced a dilemma.

Dad Barry is a dedicated Lahardane club man and corner-back for Mayo while his daughter Kathlyn was going to be making her communion two hours earlier.

Knowing the importance of both events, Barry, together with his wife Eileen, pulled in many favours to get him to the venue on time.

First task was to talk to the local priest who had organised the Communion Mass for 11.30.

With his powers of persuasion. Barry convinced the priest to bring the mass forward to 11.00, allowing him some time to watch his daughter make her First Holy Communion.

In turn, Eileen worked with her family to ensure all were prepared to take photographs with Kathlyn at 10 that morning and have her car ready to take the family to the match to cheer on their Dad.

Michael Murphy of Murphys in Lahardane kindly agreed to rearrange the dinner to 6 in the evening while Crossmolina clubman Gabriel Walsh, a brother-in-law of Barry, was going to be waiting at the door of the church to drive him the 94km to Carrick-on-Shannon.

What happened on the day? Barry got to see his daughter make her first holy communion before a mad dash to the pitch. To make a perfect end to the day, not only did Mayo win the final, Barry was 'man-of-the-match'.

Now that's dedication!

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