A GAA star has told of his family's relief as he played against Dublin - just six weeks after finishing chemotherapy.
Cavan footballer Oisin Kiernan was mid-season with his club when he "kind of felt a lump" last September.
His dad advised him to go to the doctor and within 24 hours he was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
He said: "We were in the middle of the Championship. I kind of felt a lump. I said something wasn’t right. I mentioned it to Dad then – obviously he has history of it.
"He said, ‘just go over to my GP’ in Coole. I went for a scan then the next day.
"I had to ring Donal Keogan (my club manager) and tell him I was diagnosed that morning."
Kiernan spoke about the heartbreaking moment his teammates at Castlerahan GAA were told of the news - as the club were bidding to win their first ever Cavan county championship title.
"When Donal told the players that day and I could see the shock on their faces – that’s what really got me more, because I got a bit taken back by that.
"At the time, I didn’t see it as a massive deal and I saw their reaction, so I thought maybe it’s a bit bigger than it is."
He had one of his testicles removed while still eyeing a return to sport.
However, his cancer spread and undergoing chemotherapy was the only option.
Kiernan was unable to play in the final but his team managed to clinch the historic feat on October 21 last year.
Keoghan said: "They’re (the players) like a family and I think that (Oisin's diagnosis) drove us across the line. We done it for Oisin last year."
He joined up with the Cavan senior footballers and continued to train while receiving treatment.
And on March 24, just two weeks after getting the all clear and six weeks after completing chemotherapy, cancer-free Kiernan was substituted on against All-Ireland champions Dublin in the National Football League.
Speaking as part of SuperValu’s 2019 GAA campaign, he said: "Yeah, it was massive – especially for Dad and the Grandparents too and Mam as well.
"I got the all-clear about two weeks before that, but in my head, I was going to be clear.
"It was just more relief for family and friends when I got that."
