McCloy 'critical' after collapsing during club game
August 14, 2014
Derry's Kevin McCloy
Former Derry football captain and All Star full back Kevin McCloy suffered a suspected heart attack during a club game last night.
The 35-year-old was playing for Lavey in a Derry SFC tie against Magherafelt at Owenbeg when he collapsed 11 minutes into the game. He was treated by paramedics on the pitch before being taken to the intensive care unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry in a critical condition. The match was immediately abandoned.
In a tweet last night, Lavey GFC said: "Our captain Kevin McCloy has now been transferred to the hospital&is showing signs of improvement. Please keep him in your thoughts and …"
McCloy fell to the ground just as he was about to take a free kick. It is believed he lost his pulse for around three minutes, but doctors at the scene managed to revive him.
Derry chairman John Keenan said the incident had "shocked" everyone in the county.
"We are not sure what caused this and I don't want to speculate but all I know is one of our Derry players left the grounds in a critical state and is in a serious condition in hospital. He was on his own when he fell to the ground," he is quoted in the Belfast Telegraph.
"This happens all too often to young men in football but we never expected this. It's terrible. My thoughts and prayers are with Kevin and his family."
A civil engineer by profession, McCloy captained Derry to an Allianz League title in 2008 and was awarded with an All Star in 2007. He also captained the Oak Leafers to a McKenna Cup in 2011.
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