ABERDOUR Shinty Club coach Lisa Norman enjoyed her perfect match as she exchanged vows with Roddy MacColl.

But toasting the start of married life on honeymoon in Barbados has been put on hold – to allow Lisa to star for Scotland.

She’s off to Newry to face County Down in an annual clash between the Scots and the Irish county champions.

Lisa (35), who also plays for Glasgow Mid-Argyll, and Roddy (36), a shinty player/coach with Kyles Athletic, were married at St Fillan’s Parish Church in Aberdour before enjoying a shinty-themed reception afterwards with friends and family.

The couple, of Wood Lea in Kincardine, met in Tighnabruaich – where Kyles play their home fixtures – when Roddy worked in a bar and Lisa was there for work.

She recalled, “I had always known Roddy as I knew his brother through shinty but around three years ago when I was bridesmaid at my friend’s wedding, people were trying to get us together.

“For Aberdour’s 10th anniversary we had a game against Kyles when we beat them and knocked them out of the cup. Some of them stayed for a ceilidh and the rest is history!

“It was a brilliant day and was just very us. There was a strong shinty connection, we had the band Schiehallion play at the reception and one of their members, Stuart Mackintosh, is the goalie for Glenurquhart. At the church we had a guard of honour from kids in shinty strips which was really nice, and the club donated a quaich to put up for a competition. Even in our wedding favours were little shinty balls with the words ‘A Perfect Match’!” Lisa, a sports development officer with Fife Sports and Leisure Trust, and HGV driver Roddy agreed that delaying their trip to sunnier climes was inevitable with the big game this weekend.

She added, “Last year we beat Dublin in Inverness by two points and sometimes it’s harder to play a county team who have played together all season. It’ll be tough but we’re looking forward to it, although I am looking forward to finally getting away and relaxing!”