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GAA jerseys in tribute to road victim go on sale

Fermanagh hurler Shane Mulholland who died in a road crash in April
Fermanagh hurler Shane Mulholland who died in a road crash in April Fermanagh hurler Shane Mulholland who died in a road crash in April

SPECIALLY designed GAA jerseys in tribute to a senior county hurler who tragically died in a car crash are to go on sale.

Fermanagh player Shane Mulholland, from Derrylin, died in April just days before his first wedding anniversary.

Just weeks earlier the 27-year-old and his wife Vanessa became parents for the first time when their daughter Aisling was born.

His Fermanagh teammates poignantly wore jerseys with a special design on the back in his memory during a championship final triumph at Croke Park earlier this month.

A red shamrock design was created to represent how Mr Mulholland, originally from Corkey near Loughgiel in Co Antrim, played for Loughgiel Shamrocks and Lisbellaw.

Beside the shamrock is the Irish word 'uallach', which means 'proud' and from which the surname Mullholland is derived.

And now GAA fans can pick up the unique jersey design for themselves following the team's dramatic Lory Meagher Cup victory against Sligo.

The jersey, which also has 'Lory Meagher Cup Final 2015' written under the Fermanagh crest, is available online and will soon be on sale in the Enniskillen O'Neills shop.

Store manager Kris Fursden said he hoped the jerseys would give hurling fans the opportunity to pay tribute to Mr Mulholland.

"It's nice to have something to remember him by. It's a nice little thing for the players and the fans," he said.

"The players probably gained a lot of confidence from wearing it for him and it must have helped them win."

The 31-year-old said he ordered the special jerseys after the idea was discussed with Fermanagh hurling captain John Paul McGarry.

Mr McGarry paid tribute to his team-mate Shane as he lifted the Lory Meagher Cup, a prize Mr Mulholland had described as the "holy grail of hurling".

Following the emotional match Mr Mulholland's wife Vanessa (28) said her husband's "wish came true" for the team to win the trophy.

Mr McGarry said he was pleased fans would be able to buy the specially designed jersey.

"Of course it's a bit different from any other jersey, and people will see the crest on the back and they will know about what happened that year," he said.

The 24-year-old added that Shane would have "loved" the jersey being on sale in shops following the Lory Meagher triumph.

Mr Mulholland died in a two-vehicle road crash on Friday April 24 just a few miles from his home in Derrylin.

The father-of-one coached Lisbellaw under-14s and under-16s, and had begun his dream job as a development coach for Cavan GAA shortly before the tragedy.

He was due to start coaching Derrylin GAA club under-eights in hurling, camogie and football on the Saturday morning following the fatal crash.