Shock as Gaelic Football star dies

[Joel]

Shock as Irish star dies
By Rod Curtis
March 6, 2004

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/03/05/1078464637947.html?from=storyrhs

Ireland has been rocked by the news that Cormac McAnallen, the 24-year-old Tyrone full-back noted for his valiant attempts to stop Sydney's Barry Hall in last year's International Rules series, died suddenly of a heart condition on Tuesday night (Melbourne time).

It is believed the young star - who last year captained Tyrone to its historic first All-Ireland Gaelic football title, won his first Ireland All-Star award and was selected for his third consecutive International Rules series - died of a viral heart infection, a condition that affects one in 100,000 people.

McAnallen, a secondary school history and politics teacher by trade, will be remembered with a minute's silence at Gaelic Athletic Association games throughout Ireland next week. The AFL sent a letter of condolences to the GAA this week.

Tributes have flowed for the young star. Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams said McAnallen's "untimely passing has robbed this island of one of our greatest talents".

Noel Doran, the editor of the Belfast-based Irish News, said that "in terms of a sporting figure in Tyrone, he's a bigger name than Damien Duff or Robbie Keane or Brian O'Driscoll".


GAA president Sean Kelly said McAnallen had the "rare gift of greatness, allied to humility".

Australia's International Rules coach, Garry Lyon, said McAnallen had a "fantastic attitude to sport and life". Lyon said that, in last October's first Test in Perth, McAnallen was "fighting out of his weight division" against Hall, "but he never gave up".

"The spirit between the two teams is great," Lyon said. "It's just very, very sad."

 

[rizzo]

it is a real tradegy there will also be a memorial service for him, not sure of the details

 

[Peter P]

The funeral was today in his home village - like a tiny little country town. They were expecting 20,000 at the funeral and they had to limit the number of GAA players in the guard of honour from the church to the cemetary because they wouldn't all fit. http://www.gaa.ie/Default.aspx?instanceId=4984

He was the captain of the premiership county.

Irish President Mary McAleese:

"He gave us some wonderful memories and also brought nothing but pride, glory, honour and goodness. That's all he left us was goodness. That is some legacy to leave at 24," she said, adding that she too felt "privileged" to have known him.

A memorial website:
http://www.hoganstand.com/tyrone/2004/cormac/cormac.htm

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

What a sad loss.

Rest in Peace

 

[Peter P]

From today's Irish Independent frontpage:

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A special tribute . . . from the woman he loved
Saturday March 6th 2004


CORMAC McAnallen was buried in the village graveyard at Eglish yesterday when thousands turned out to pay tribute to the Co Tyrone All-Ireland captain.

They stood in silence as they waited for the hearse. The bells of St Patrick's Church tolled and muffled sobs filled the air.

Inside the church the Sam Maguire Cup was placed on the side altar beside an action picture of the smiling 24-year-old.

And there, a quiet tribute was paid to Cormac by the woman he loved - his fiancee Ashlene Moore.

She recited a poem to her "special best friend" - the man she planned to marry next year. Her dearest wish, she said, was "for my Cormac to be standing with me and for us to be as happy, as happy as can be."

And it was Ashlene's wish that her engagement ring and a wedding invitation be brought to the altar.

During the Mass Archbishop Sean Brady said the example of Cormac's all too short, but brilliant life, would be a light to very many others.

"He was a role model, gentle and modest, dedicated and disciplined, joyful and happy.

"In the eyes of all of us, Cormac has died before his time, carried away in the twinkling of an eye by a deadly freak virus. It is hard to make sense of it all."

There were tears in the graveyard when RTE commentator Micheal O Muircheartaigh recited The Beautiful Game as Cormac was laid to rest.

Men from Armagh and Tyrone and further afield wiped away tears for the young man who had indeed played a beautiful game.
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[colin]

This was an unbelievable shock. When you consider the Linfield supporters club sent a gesture of condolence to Cormac's family (supporters noted for their loyalist paramilitary links), it truly shows what an impact his death had, especially in the North.

Nice tribute guys. RIP Cormac.

 

[maccas_no1]

Very Sad News R.I.P Cormac McAnallen

 

[Peter P]

There were a lot of true tearjerkers [if I can use that word in a somber sense] amongst the artilces in The Irish Independent www.unison.ie

Just as a final word here - if anyone wants to add to an online book of condolences at www.hoganstand.com click on www.hoganstand.com/tyrone/2004/cormac/cormac.htm apparently this will be sent to the family. It contains messages from fans and clubs around the world.

Cormac was the plucky Irish full back who contained Barry Hall reasonably well last year.