The funeral will take place today in Middletown of Gerry O'Neill, who was a member of the Armagh side that lost the 1953 All-Ireland SFC final to Kerry.

The 83-year-old retired schoolteacher was one of the greatest football talents ever produced by the Orchard County. He first came to prominence in 1946 when, along with his brother Fr Brendan O'Neill, he helped St. Patrick's College, Armagh to Hogan Cup glory.

An accomplished free-taker, he went on to play for Armagh in the 1948 All-Ireland JFC final which they lost to Dublin. He was corner forward on the famous 1953 team which captured the Anglo-Celt Cup before narrowly losing the All-Ireland final to Kerry. In the semi-final, Gerry's accurate free-taking proved the difference against Roscommon.

While Gerry played most of his club football with Middletown Eoghan Rua, he also had a short spell with Aghagallon when he was teaching at the time. He later returned to Middletown and after his playing career ended, he served a variety of roles, including secretary, chairman and team selector.

May he rest in peace. Tweet

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