There is a special bond between a father and his daughter.
And the opening game of the championship was not going to be able to come between Mark Timmons and little Kathlyn Timmons’ Communion day.
Timmons faced a tough test of his time management skills on Saturday afternoon as he lined out for Laois in the Leinster championship opener against Wicklow in O’Moore Park.
The game threw-in at 7pm, and Timmons started the game at centre-back where he played a key role as the Midlanders managed to ensure a nervy opening day win by 3-16 to 0-18.
After the game photographers from Inpho and Sportsfile then captured what surely a contender for GAA picture of the season when Timmons caught up with his young daughter, who just hours earlier had celebrated her first Communion.
Take me to Church. Mark Timmons of Laois after the game with his daughter Kathlyn, who made her Holy Communion today pic.twitter.com/4iRnI74V9F
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) May 14, 2016
The contrast of the dress and her football boots is what makes it an instant classic, and there was also a brilliant back-story to the picture too.
Ah lads! 2/2 @mariecrowe spotted Mark Timmons' daughter had her f'ball boots on with communion dress! #blessmefather pic.twitter.com/iMb618WySR
— clíona foley (@ponyyelof) May 15, 2016
garda escort not helicopter ! apologies !
— Stephen Bambrick (@babsclio) May 14, 2016
Kathlyn was involved in the post-match warm-down on the pitch.
9 year old Kathlyn Timmons, who made her holy communion earlier in the day, waits for her father Mark! pic.twitter.com/waoDnh0K2l
— sportsfile (@sportsfile) May 15, 2016
Your Holy Communion is a day that many young children will always remember, and for the nine-year-old, it became even more special with these wonderful pictures.
Early contender for GAA pic of the year as @CLGLaois Mark Timmons celebrates win with his daughter! @LiveGAAResults pic.twitter.com/mLECrHmNGQ
— Inpho Photography (@Inphosports) May 15, 2016
Everyone who saw the picture could only remark on the innocence and the simplicity of the magic captured in a single image
.@CLGLaois Mark Timmons celebrating with his Daughter today.
#GAA photo of the year wrapped up in mid May #Class pic.twitter.com/LIfeFBCbgg
— Rory's Stories (@RorysStories) May 14, 2016
pic of the year, call off the search
— Michael Moynihan (@MikeMoynihanEx) May 14, 2016
Let’s hope she keeps the boots on for Laois’ next game in Nowlan Park against Dublin on 4 June.
