Derry GAA is mourning the passing of former dual star and All-Ireland SFC winner Colm 'Collie' McGurk.

As well as being part of the Derry squad that lifted the Sam Maguire in 1993, he won an All-Ireland club football title with his beloved Lavey in 1991. He also garnered an Ulster SHC medal in 2000, four Derry SFC titles and 12 Derry SHC medals in a glittering career. In addition, Colm managed the Oak Leaf hurlers to Nickey Rackard Cup and Ulster U21 successes in 2017.

Owner of the award-winning McGurk Architects, Colm was part of a well-known GAA family. All seven of his brothers were talented footballers. Anthony won a pair of All-Stars in the 1970s, Hugh Martin captained Derry in the 1980s, while Johnny was wing back on the 1993 All-Ireland SFC winning team.

Leading the tributes to Colm, Derry GAA chairman John Keenan said: "Colm was small in stature but a giant of Derry GAA. His ambition for his club and county matched his energy and drive to improve and develop our community and its people.

"Colm McGurk's influence can be found on the blueprints of many areas of the GAA in Derry and Ulster.

"An All-Ireland winner with Derry in 1993 and an Ulster hurling winner in 2000, our former senior hurling manager, a competition sponsor and the chief architect on the Owenbeg complex opened in 2013, Colm had been working with Derry GAA in recent months on plans to further progress our facilities at Owenbeg for player development.

"Colm McGurk brought energy and passion to everything that he did. He was terrific company and will be very sadly missed."

Colm was described by his club as "probably the bravest Lavey man of all time".

"Despite being an All-Ireland winner with club and county, Collie McGurk represents something greater than sport and Gaelic games. With his insatiable spirit, energy and lust for life, Collie McGurk was not made for defeat in any walk of life," the club said.

"A brave, generous, determined, talented, kind, altruistic, inspirational and loving man with a formidable life force has left us. His unbreakable spirit and legacy of service to his family, community and county will endure."

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