THE Ulster U-20 football final between Monaghan and Down is expected to be postponed this weekend in the wake of the tragic death of the team’s captain Brendan ‘Ógie’ Duffy.
The 19-year-old Monaghan Harps player will be buried on Wednesday after losing his life in a two-car collision on the N2 near Clontibret at around 11.30pm on Friday night.
The teenager had just departed the team bus at Monaghan’s GAA centre of excellence at Cloghan after captaining the county to victory over Donegal in the Ulster semi-final at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.
Despite Monaghan‘s Ulster senior semi-final against Donegal going ahead on Saturday evening in Newry, GAA sources have said it is unlikely that this weekend’s U-20 final will proceed as planned.
Monaghan are due to line out against Down at Armagh’s Athletics Grounds at 7pm on Saturday evening.
It is understood Ulster GAA officials were waiting on the request for postponement from Monaghan yesterday, with senior figures casting doubt that the final could go ahead just three days after the burial of the team’s captain.
The official decision is expected to be taken following a meeting of the Ulster Competitions Controls Committee (CCC) this week.
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It is thought the game will be played in the middle of next week.
The funeral of the young sportsman is due to take place at St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan town, with current restrictions limiting numbers to 50 mourners.
The 19-year-old’s club has already confirmed the postponement of all activities until further notice.
The loss of the rising sports star sparked an outpouring of grief across the GAA world over the weekend, with tributes paid from GAA clubs across the country.
Speaking on Saturday, after he similarly captained Monaghan into the Ulster senior final, Ryan Wylie described the devastation within the squad when the news filtered through.
“I’m lost for words, it’s just heart-breaking,” he said.
The defender said the tragedy had put matters into perspective for a lot of the players.
“It just shows you that you just have to live in the moment.
“Just enjoy your life and live your life and don’t have any regrets. There’s a lot more to life than reaching an Ulster final. But these small things, you have to enjoy them.”
Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney, who coached Mr Duffy to an Ulster minor championship in 2018, spoke of his overriding sadness on Saturday.
"Brendan Óg was my captain in 2018 when we won the Ulster Minor Championship and only those who have a captain-manager relationship can understand it,” he said.
"The trust, the loyalty and the love that was there - for me personally it is devastating."
The Monaghan manager said the side was not offered the opportunity to postpone Saturday’s game.
"Nobody came to us about the game,” he told the BBC. “It was difficult, but if Brendan Óg was in the same shoes he would want to go out and represent Monaghan with all his heart."
Among those to offer condolences was Tommy Bowe.
The former Irish rugby union player, who comes from Co Monaghan, tweeted: "Heartbreaking news to hear about the death of young ‘Ogie’, Brendan Og Duffy, just hours after Captaining @MonaghanGAA U20’s to the Ulster final! Sending my deepest condolences to his family and friends."
