THE funeral will take place today of the Monaghan under-20 captain Brendan Óg Duffy who died in a road crash hours after leading his team to an Ulster final.
The 19-year-old Monaghan Harps player was driving home from an Ulster semi-final match last Friday when the two-car collision happened in Co Monaghan.
The teenager had just departed the team bus at Monaghan’s GAA centre of excellence at Cloghan when he was involved in a crash near Clontibret shortly before 11.30pm.
He died at the scene.
Affectionately known as 'Ogie', Mr Duffy captained Monaghan's under-20 footballers to a resounding 3-10 to 1-11 win over Donegal in the Ulster semi-final at Brewster Park in Enniskillen.
The Ulster U20 final between Monaghan and Down had been due to take place this weekend. But following Mr Duffy's tragic death, it has been rescheduled for July 30 at the Athletic Grounds.
The loss of the rising sports star sparked an outpouring of grief across the GAA community with numerous tributes paid to the teenager.
He was described as a "great player" and one who would have shone at senior level in the coming years.
The 19-year-old’s club postponed all activities until further notice.
The funeral of the young sportsman is due to take place today at St Macartan’s Cathedral in Monaghan town at 11am, with current restrictions limiting numbers to 50 mourners.
The funeral mass will also be streamed online ahead of burial in St Joseph’s Old Cemetery, Latlurcan.
His devastated family wrote in a death notice: "Sadly missed by his heartbroken parents Brendan and Esther, his sisters Claire and Áine, his aunts and uncles, all his relations, his friends and his fellow players in the Monaghan Harps GFC and on the under-20 county team and his workmates in Kingspan."
