As the shocking news of Brian Og Maguire’s tragic death spread throughout the country last Thursday morning, GAA followers everywhere, mourned the premature loss of one of its sons.
While the untimely passing of anyone so young is always greeted with sadness, the GAA community articulate such losses with considerable emotion and sentiment.
Role models like Brian Og, along with the likes of Leitrim’s Philip McGuinness, and the late great Cormac McAnallen, represent so much of what is good in a young person.
Through their actions they have impacted hugely on the lives of others in ways many young people fail to do nowadays.
An unconditional loyalty to family, friends and team-mates were the cornerstones of these footballer’s lives.
At just 23, Brian Og Maguire was captain of his club Lisnaskea when they won the All-Ireland IFC title last year. I think I am right in saying that he is the only Fermanagh man to have lifted an All-Ireland trophy in Croke Park. He also should be preparing to lead his club into their first county senior final since 1996. A leader through and through. Brian Og’s club Lisnaskea is not far from my own club, located on the Fermanagh border, and with my mother coming from a neighbouring town, Newtownbutler, I spent a lot of time growing up in that part of the country. I can’t admit to knowing Brian Og that well, as he was a good bit younger than me, but I know many of his family and those belonging to him, both on and of the field.
The GAA scene in Fermanagh is unique in many ways such is the battle it faces against mitigating circumstances. With only 20 clubs in all, the GAA community is a small one. But what they lack in numbers they make up for in unity and spirit. Fermanagh GAA supporters are very close, almost parochial like a club.
The Maguires and their extended family are central to this and would be well known and highly regarded throughout the county. This was never more evident than at this week’s funeral when every club in the county took part in a guard of honour as Brian Og was taken on his final journey through the streets of his home town.
It is not so much what happens on the field, more what young men like Brian Og, Philip and Cormac represent, that hurts people the most when they pass. Good people, who were dedicated and loyal friends, and team mates. Good people who in a life as a GAA player, committed to something greater than themselves. Good people, who realised the importance of family and lived every moment for them as much as anyone. Good people, who lived the positive virtues of life in more ways than any mother or father could ever hope for. By all accounts Brian Og was one of these good people, and in the close knit GAA communities of Lisnaskea and Fermanagh, his loss will be felt for a long time to come.
Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/kPprPalSJ6g/post.aspx
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