The Late Ivan Duffin & David Browne The lives of two of Co. Wexford's most promising sports stars were tragically and devastatingly cut short when they were involved in a fatal accident outside Waterford. Ivan Duffin (19) from Burkestown, Ballycullane and David Browne (18) from the nearby tug-o-war heartland of Boley were killed when the car in which they were travelling collide with a lorry as they returned home from work. They had travelled separately that morning and decided to journey home together, having planned to make a stop-off to look at alloy wheels. Shortly before setting off, Ivan had been in contact with his mother to say he would be home for tea. Tragically, the two friends were never to reach their destination. Both exemplary young men, their deaths have united all ages in grief not just in Ballycullane but across Co. Wexford where they were known as rising sports stars. Beloved youngest son of Michael 'Mick' and Carmel Duffin, Ivan was a footballer of exceptional calibre. His prowess on the playing pitch extended beyond the realm of Gaelic football into soccer and even hurling. Starting out at under-age level, Ivan became a key member of the Gusserane-O'Rahilly GAA Club. From the age of nine upwards, he featured prominently on countless teams and managed to break through this year as a full-back on the Gusserane senior football team. He was a member of the Under 10, Under-12 and Under-14 Gusserane teams, which went on to clinch County Championship titles. He was also a member of the beaten Under-16 Gusserane side as well as the team which lost by a point in last year's Jim Byrne Cup Final. A former student of Good Counsel College, Ivan was a star of the school's football team. He played in last year's Leinster Colleges Senior Semi Final and was a member of the team which lost out by a point to the eventual winners of the competition, Dundalk. In 2002, Ivan played full-back on the Wexford minor team in the Leinster Championship while he won a Junior B Championship medal with Gusserane in November. A strapping lad, standing at 6'2'', he was a full-back on the Gusserane senior team which beat neighbouring Horeswood in May 18 while he played against Castletown just two days before his death. Hailing from a family with legendary sporting associations, Ivan followed in the proud footsteps of his father, Mick who played with the County minor, junior and under-21 teams. Mick won a County medal with Gusserane in 1965. David Browne shared Ivan's deep love of sport and also played with the Gusserane-O'Rahilly's from a young age, winning several juvenile titles. He went on to captain the Gusserane Minor team in 2002 while he played with Ramsgrange Community School during his student years. He also hailed from a family with great sporting affiliations. David's father, Brendan and Ivan's father, Mick, played together for Gusserane. Brendan was a member of the Gusserane side which won the County Senior Football Championship in 1975. Courtesy of the Wexford People July 2003 Tweet

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