A 19-YEAR-OLD man killed in a Co Tyrone car crash at the weekend has been described at his funeral as a talented GAA footballer "on the cusp of greatness".
Maurice McCloughan from Fintona died along with his childhood friend Killian Doherty (19) from Drumquin following a two car crash on the A5 Doogary Road outside Omagh on Saturday morning.
More than a thousand mourners joined together at St Lawrence's Church in Fintona on Tuesday to pay their respects to Mr McCloughan, a former Ulster Vocational Schools GAA All Star and centre half back for St Pearses, who he captained to a minor county championship.
Members of the Fintona Pearses and Drumquin Wolfe Tones clubs and Dromore Enterprise and Business College formed a guard of honour as the coffin arrived at the church, while later there was a round of applause as the remains were carried to the adjoining graveyard for burial.
Speaking at the funeral Canon Patrick Marron said the entire community had been left numbed by the tragedy.
"Maurice was so friendly and had such an infectious smile and so much involvement in the community and was so talented," he told the congregation.
"The family are distraught and devastated by his death. He's the youngest of a family of five and made friends very easily and kept them," Canon Marron said.
The Fintona priest told mourners of a talented sportsman who had enjoyed achievements "beyond his years".
"He was also a very accomplished footballer and I would say on the cusp of greatness," Canon Marron said.
He urged those in attendance to emulate the focus of Maurice who put "his whole heart" into everything he did.
The priest further recognised the community support received by the family in their time of need.
"Numbers of people impossible to count have stood in solidarity with the McCloughan family over recent days. People called at the family home not just to offer their sympathy, but to also say a prayer for the repose of Maurice’s soul,” he told mourners.
In the wake of her brother's death Ellen described Maurice as the "the life and soul of every party" and "never without that infectious smile".
"The words do not exist to explain the pain that I am feeling and that I know we all are feeling," she said.
Mr McCloughan is survived by parents Kevin and Maggie and siblings Kevin, Johnny, Aaron and Ellen.
The funeral for Killian Doherty will take place on Wednesday at St Patrick's Church, Drumquin at 11am.
Mr Doherty's death is the second road-related tragedy to hit the family after his cousin Jonathan Doherty was killed in a road crash in Co Donegal a year ago.
Police have appealed for anyone who witnessed the two-car crash on Saturday morning to contact them.
