As Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was laid to rest yesterday, his love of the GAA was on view for all to see on the saddest of days.

A former Cavan underage player who played with his native Crosserlough, Adrian joined up with the St Patrick's club when he moved to live in north Louth. He was a player and then a coach with the Lordship club, and they played their part in remembering their fallen clubman yesterday.

As the cortege passed the St Patrick's pitch, Aidan's coffin was carried by his family, friends and colleagues to his final resting place. Among those to have this honour were his friends from St Patrick's, the current county champions. Louth All Star Paddy Keenan was among the pallbearers who wore club tops on the sombre occasion.

The GAA was well represented with Aidan's home club of Crosserlough also present in huge numbers.

Among the gifts brought to the alter during the funeral mass were jerseys from Aidan's clubs and Cavan, and poignantly, so to was the O'Neill's ball that Aidan used to teach his son Niall (6) the skills of Gaelic football.

As Fr Michael Cusack, who concelebrated the funeral mass explained: "Detective Garda Donohoe was a loving family man who gave himself to his wife and two young children, his job, the GAA and the community he lived in." Tweet

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