DUP MP Emma Little-Pengelly congratulated Carryduff GAC after the club's ladies team won the Down Senior County title. Picture from Twitter/Emma Little-Pengelly

A DUP MP has sent a message of congratulations to a GAA club after its senior ladies team won the club's first ever senior county title.

Emma Little-Pengelly, who is the DUP MP for South Belfast, tweeted congratulations to Carryduff GAA after the club's senior ladies team won the Down county title.

It is the first time any team from the club has won a senior county football title.

Ms Little-Pengelly tweeted: "Breaking new ground with this win! Congratulations to Carryduff GAC Senior Ladies last week."

The South Belfast MP was widely praised for her message, with one Twitter user writing: "Excellent to see cross community respect like this. Fair dues Emma."

Another added: "That's called leadership. Thank you for this Emma."

Breaking new ground with this win! Congratulations to Carryduff GAC Senior Ladies last week https://t.co/V1r47F9HR9 — E Little-Pengelly MP (@little_pengelly) September 15, 2017

It is the latest in a series of gradual moves which has seen the DUP adopt a more open attitude to the GAA, and a long way from when Sammy Wilson referred to the association as "the sporting wing of the IRA".

In a tweet before the Pride parade in Belfast in August, Ms Pengelly wrote: "Best wishes to all my friends and constituents celebrating today – all should be able to live a proud life free from hate, abuse or persecution".

The DUP has used the petition of concern mechanism to block motions in the Assembly aimed at changing the law on same-sex marriage.