There was great excitement in Ballina on St Stephen's Day when Irish rugby international Caelan Doris attended the annual Aubrey Bourke Cup final at the local rugby clib.
Doris began his rugby journey at Ballina RFC as a five-year-old and went on to win a Connacht U-16 medal with the Moysiders before going on to star for Ireland and Leinster.
He was present in Heffernan Park on Tuesday as a huge crowd gathered to watch the big game between Ballina's senior squad and an invitational team representing club president Adrian Bourke. The action on the pitch matched the excitement off it and there were joyous celebrations when the President's XV emerged victorious by a single point.
Afterwards, the President presented the cup, named in honour of his brother to winning captain Neil Molloy before celebrations began in earnest. A large gathering of friends, family and guests packed into the clubhouse where speeches, presentations and pictured with the returning international abounded.
(Photos by John O'Grady)
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