Feeney, Ger
December 12, 2010The tragic passing of Ger Feeney and Donal McEllin over the weekend has sent shock waves through Mayo sport. Feeney was one of Mayo's finest footballers in the seventies, while McEllin was an integral part of the Castlebar Mitchels club. Their untimely deaths in a boating accident off Inishbofin was received with great sadness throughout the county when news broke on Sunday afternoon.
Ger was famed for his footballing exploits with his native Ballintubber and went on to play for Mayo at all levels, picking up two replacement All-Star awards along the way. He starred at right-half back on the team that won the All-Ireland U21 title in 1974 and in the same position on the Mayo team that won an All-Ireland minor title three years before that.
The first of his 69 senior appearances for the green and red occurred in the replayed Connacht semi-final against Sligo in McHale Park on July 2, 1972 and his final Mayo appearances was against Kerry in the National League in November 1981.
Ger was a player of high renown and he wore the white jersey of Connacht on numerous occasions throughout the seventies and also played for the Rest of Ireland against Dublin in Croke Park in 1978.
Donal, uncle of Castlebar and Mayo footballer, Tom Cunniffe, worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the Mitchels. He was involved at all levels of the club and he will be greatly missed.
Former Mayo star and current Castlebar Mitchels selector, Tommy O'Malley, was devastated by the passing of his two friends.
"Donal was a fantastic man. He did so much work behind the scenes. He made sure everything was in place for the players and management and never made a big deal of it. He was involved in the background of every team in the club and nothing was too big of a task. He was so proud of Tom's achievements with Mitchels and Mayo. Donal was a true gentleman," Tommy explained.
"Ger was a marvellous footballer and a marvellous man. He was one of the best in Ireland throughout the seventies and was respected by his peers far and wide. He won an All-Ireland U-21 medal with Mayo in '74 and captained the team a year later. He was already established in the senior team at that stage and was a replacement on the All-Star teams in '75 and '77. He was voted player of the tournament on the '75 tour and no man deserved it more," O'Malley explained.
"He captained Ballintuber when they won the intermediate final against Ballinrobe in 1976 and was one of the best footballers I've ever played with. Later he became heavily involved with Mitchels and was part of the management team along with Henry Gavin and myself when we got to the All-Ireland club final in 1993.
"Ger was a great character. We travelled the world together playing football and had great fun along the way. I just can't believe he's gone. We were great friends and I was blessed to have known him.
"Both Ger and Donal are a huge loss to Mitchels but that's nothing compared to the grief and loss felt by their families and my heart goes out to them," Tommy concluded.
Former Mayo manager and player, John O'Mahony TD also expressed his sadness at the untimely deaths of the two gaels. "My first thoughts, and those of everyone that I have spoken to, are with the families of Ger and Donal. They are all devastated at this time and all our thoughts and prayers must go to them all," he said.
"Ger made his championship debut for Mayo in 1972 against Sligo at McHale Park at just 19 years of age. He was a superb wing-back and went on to have a wonderful career with the count, playing on All-Star tours along the way. I played with him at minor. U-21 and senior level and he was one of those players who let his ability do the talking.
"His loss at this time is particularly poignant and I Know that he was really looking forward to the county final in a couple of weeks time when Ballintubber play Castlebar Mitchels. There are so many families touched by this tragedy with Donal McEllin being the uncle of Tom Cunniffe, the Mayo and Castlebar Mitchels player. It's such an awful tragedy and one that has united the county in grief. May their souls rest in peace."
Meanwhile, Castlebar Mitchels have decided to defer their Sports Debate scheduled for next Friday night as a mark of respect to their own departed friends.
Funeral arrangements for both men have been announced. Ger Feeney's remains will repose at the Coady Funeral Home in Castlebar today (Tuesday) from 5pm with removal at 8pm to the church of the holy rosary, Castlebar, Requiem Mass on Wednesday at 11am with the funeral proceeding to Ballintubber Abbey cemetery.
Donal McEllin will repose at his residence in Maryland on Wednesday from 4pm until 8pm. Removal on Thursday morning at 11am to the Church of the holy rosary, Castlebar for funeral mass at 12 o'clock with the funeral proceeding to Balla cemetery.
Courtesy of the Western People 12/12/10 Tweet
