"There's a couple of people not here, but that was for them"
October 28, 2025
Madden's Niall Grimley during the team photo ahead of the Armagh SFC final against Cullyhanna ©INPHO/Leah Scholes
An emotional Niall Grimley dedicated Madden’s Armagh senior football championship final win over Cullyhanna on Sunday to his late brother Patrick.
Next month marks the second anniversary of the tragic deaths of Grimley’s brother Patrick and sister-in-law Ceira in a road traffic accident which also claimed the life of Ciara McElvanna as they returned home from Patrick’s 40th birthday party. Ciara’s husband Kevin McElvanna is a member of the Madden management team.
Speaking after Madden’s inaugural Gerry Fagan Cup success, midfielder Grimley dedicated the win to those that lost their lives in the tragedy two years ago.
"There's a couple of people not here, but that was for them," he told BBC Sport NI after the 0-20 to 0-9 victory.
"There were a couple of lads on the sideline injured and we said we'd put the shoulder to the wheel for them boys. This is amazing - I feel like I'm dreaming.
"These boys - my brothers, my cousins, my family - all bleed red and black and it's amazing to be here and celebrate it with the people I've grown up with my whole life.
"This community and club is special. They've given me everything my whole life and I just want to give something back to them. If it's kicking a football around a pitch, I'll do that 100 times out of 100."
He added: "Patrick, God rest him, will be looking down at this and this one is for him.”
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