The Late Wayne Watchorn The Wexford Hurling and Football Teams lost one of their most ardent supporters and greatest admirers when Wayne Watchorn passed away peacefully on Thursday 14th June last at his family home in Kiltealy. Wayne, just six months short of his fifteenth birthday, lost his last battle with Leukaemia, an illness which he had bravely battled for eleven years. Never being one who would let anything get the better of him however, Wayne did all he could to live life to the full and managed to pack more into his short few years than many would achieve in a lifetime. At his burial, his cousin and carer, Joanne Doyle, speaking before an enormous congregation of family, neighbours and friends said: "Wayne could teach us all how to live life to the full". She addressed Wayne directly in her graveyard oration saying :"You are a legend in your short 14 and a half years, it is hard to say goodbye but we will all have wonderful memories to cherish. You will be forever young". Wayne's passions in life were many, ranging from horse's to hunting to dog racing to soccer but perhaps he reserved his greatest affection for GAA. Whether it be the fortunes of the Senior County teams or his beloved Duffry Rovers Wayne could be guaranteed to be involved and interested up to the last. An accomplished sportsman himself, he won numerous underage titles himself in both hurling and football and was named "Player of the Year" in 2002 for his native Duffry Rovers Club. As recently as May of this year, despite his illness, he was on the panel of the F.C.J. Under 14 hurling team which won the Flogas hurling league. Wayne's commitment to sport can be summed up in the following story of an event which occurred recently. Wayne was in Crumlin Hospital, waiting impatiently(!) for an injection when he called to one of the nurses. He told her then that she'd have to hurry up and give him the injection straight away because the Duffry Rovers were playing Junior B in Coolree at 7.30pm and he had to be there! Wayne is survived by his parents Doug and Patricia and by his brothers Derek, Alan, Eamon, Kenny & Stephen. He is fondly remembered by his friends and neighbours and by all who were touched by his life in any way. Last year the Wexford Senior Hurling Team were privileged to have Wayne as a part of the back room team when he carried out the role of Hurley Carrier during the 2006 league campaign. Fittingly, he was laid to rest in his beloved Kiltealy wearing a jersey given to him by his hero, friend and mentor, Damien Fitzhenry. Courtesy of the Leinster Senior Hurling Final Programme 1 July 2007 Tweet

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