by Mayukh Ghosh

There's a nice Tim Murtagh story told by his uncle Andrew.

Tim found himself fielding at square leg in a match umpired by John Holder.
Holder, team-mate of Andrew, was standing beside him.
The conversation thus went:

"So Tim, what are your plans for this weekend? As you're a Murtagh I guess it'll be something disreputable."
"I am going to my cousin's wedding. Uncle Andy's daughter."
"So, where's the wedding?"
"In Worcestershire. In a castle, actually."
"A castle! I knew your uncle was rich. Not that he bought many drinks when we played together."
"That's what my dad says too."

"What time the wedding starts?"
"Two o'clock."
"You'll struggle to get there on time, seeing the way this game is going."
Tim mournfully nodded his head.
"Tell you what, Tim, don't worry. I'll make sure you get there in time. Anything for my old mate, Murt."

Later, as Andrew was halfway through his speech as the bride's father, the door opened.
"Tim! Great to see you. Better late than never."
"Couldn't miss Kate's wedding, could I?"
"How did you get here? What happened in the match?"
"We lost. Mainly because your old mate, John Holder, gave me out lbw. It was missing leg by six inches. I could have saved the game...."

Tim Murtagh did rather well in the first Test match played by Ireland.
He was born on 2 Aug 1981.