Sunday Mirror (Northern Ireland)
ULSTER GAA STAR KILLED IN SMASH
Brendan, 19, dies hours after leading county U-20s to victory
A TRAGIC teen destined to become a top GAA star died in a horror road crash just hours after leading his county to victory.
Brendan Og O Dufaigh, 19, was killed after captaining Monaghan Under-20s to an Ulster Championship semi-final win on Friday night.
His club chairman Jimmy Croarkin said: “GAA was his life... he was so talented.”
A YOUNG GAA star was killed instantly in a horror road crash just two hours after leading his team to victory in a crucial Ulster Championship game.
Tragic Brendan Og O Dufaigh was returning from the match when his car was in a collision with another vehicle just outside Clontibret, Co Monaghan.
The 19-year-old captain of the Monaghan Under-20 team was pronounced dead at the scene.
Just two hours earlier Brendan played a starring role helping to turn the tide for his side as they battled back from a five-point deficit to defeat Donegal in the Ulster Championship semi-final.
The tragic death of the teenager, who was destined to become a senior inter-county star, has caused devastation for his family, town and throughout Monaghan.
Last night it emerged the talented teen would not have been playing with the Under-20 side on Friday night had he answered the call to join the Monaghan senior squad.
But modest Brendan, affectionately known as “Ogie”, turned down the offer and instead insisted on captaining the Under-20s in the Ulster Championship and saw his team through to the final.
He played his football with Monaghan Harps and the devastated chairman of the club Jimmy Croarkin described him as a “true gentleman” and a “massive talent”.
He said: “It’s very raw. He was just a true gentleman… so good with the kids in the club as well as the adults.
“GAA was his life and he threw everything at football.
“But he was also a huge link in our community. He was so talented. The seniors had wanted him this year but he turned them down saying he was still too young, but he had a massive, massive future with Monaghan GAA. And he was a fantastic person as well.”
Tributes for the late star poured in yesterday, with his club tweeting: “Our club is devastated at the news of the untimely death of our senior player and county Under-20 captain Brendan Og O Dufaigh.
“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.
“All club activity has been postponed until further notice.”
Local Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy said “such a tragic loss of a wonderful young man” cast a dark cloud over Co Monaghan, adding “deepest sympathies to all who knew and loved him”.
Floral tributes and green and white club scarfs were placed yesterday at the gates of the Monaghan Harps ground.
It is understood Brendan left his car at the county’s training centre in Cloghan and took the team bus to Brewster Park in Enniskillen where the match was played.
He returned on the same bus and was driving home from the training ground when his car collided with an oncoming vehicle on the N2 at Tullybuck, near Clontibret, at around 11.30pm on Friday.
It is believed the driver of the other car did not suffer serious injuries.
Gardai are urging anyone who witnessed the crash to contact then.
A spokesman said: “Gardai are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to come forward. Gardai are also appealing to anyone who was in the Tullybuck, Clontibret area on Friday evening between 11.15pm and midnight to contact them.”
He was just a true gentleman... GAA was his life and he threw everything at football JIMMY CROARKIN MONAGHAN HARPS CHAIRMAN YESTERDAY