ALL GAMES OFF IN TRIBUTE TO CASEY

ALL GAA games in Tyrone have been called off this weekend as the county prepares to bid farewell to one of its greatest players.

The decision to postpone a packed programme of fixtures was taken by the Competitions Control Committee as a mark of respect to the late Damian Casey, whose funeral is due to take place in Dungannon on Sunday.

The 29-year-old (above), the greatest hurler the county has ever produced, died suddenly while in Spain for a friend’s wedding last week.

Tyrone PRO Eugene Mcconnell (right) said: “I think all gaels would agree that it is the right decision in the current situation, as we all struggle to come to terms with the loss of Damian.

“The outpouring of grief that this county and every county across Ireland have experienced following the tragic loss of Damian, who was such an icon in the GAA world, shows you how much respect people have for his memory.

“This is something that the GAA within our county feel is right, as we acknowledge and appreciate all that Damian did for his county and for his club and for the GAA as a whole.”

Mcconnell said that while football is the dominant code in Tyrone, the loss of a hurling legend has had no less an impact on all GAA members in the county.

“There’s no differentiation when it comes to the situation that we find ourselves in.

“The footballers of our county equally admire and respect what Damian did for Tyrone, and they all feel equal in measure in regards to how they can share the grief and the pain that the Casey family are going through.

“For footballers and hurlers alike, they all want to be able in equal measure to show their

sadness and respect for the loss of such a dedicated gael.”