Galway footballer Seán Fitzgerald has brought his Love Island journey to an early close after he and fellow contestant Lola Deal made the decision to leave the villa together.
The pair were among the three couples left vulnerable following a public vote that placed them at risk of elimination. However, before the remaining Islanders were asked to decide which couple would be sent home, Fitzgerald and Deal took matters into their own hands by announcing they were leaving the competition voluntarily.
Explaining their decision, the couple said they were happy with the relationship they had built during their time on the show and did not want the other contestants to have to choose their fate. Their exit was met with support from their fellow Islanders, bringing an emotional end to their time in the villa.
Fitzgerald entered this year's series as one of the original contestants and quickly became a familiar face among viewers. Throughout the season, the Bearna, Co Galway native formed a strong connection with Lola, with the pair navigating several twists and challenges before eventually making their relationship exclusive.
Love Island: SR13 on ITV2 and ITVX, ©ITV. From Lifted Entertainment.
The 25-year-old primary school teacher made headlines before entering the villa when he temporarily stepped away from the Galway senior football panel to take part in the hit ITV dating show. His decision to swap the football field for the Love Island villa attracted plenty of attention, particularly among GAA supporters.
Speaking before the series began, Fitzgerald insisted he was not planning to become involved in unnecessary drama, although he admitted he would not shy away from pursuing a genuine connection.
"I don't plan on getting caught up in drama," he said ahead of entering the villa, while joking that he "might be mixing it" if the situation called for it. He also made it clear he would be confident in pursuing anyone he was interested in, saying: "If I see someone I like, I'm going for it and nothing's going to stop me."
Although his time on Love Island has now come to an end, Fitzgerald leaves the villa having found a relationship with Deal, with the couple choosing to continue their romance away from the cameras rather than risk being separated by the public vote.
Love Island continues tonight at 9pm on Virgin Media Play and Virgin Media Two.
