Football

My father was always my go-to man: Antrim and Rossa player Stephen Beatty

The late Davy Beatty (second, right) with his family. Davy passed away on Monday evening
The late Davy Beatty (second, right) with his family. Davy passed away on Monday evening The late Davy Beatty (second, right) with his family. Davy passed away on Monday evening

ANTRIM and O’Donovan Rossa dual player Stephen Beatty has revealed he put his inter-county career on hold to spend more time with his ill father who passed away on Monday night.

Rossa clubman and father-of-four Davy Beatty (64) lost his two-year battle with cancer. He will be fondly remembered as "a gentleman" and one of the shining lights of the west Belfast club.

A devoted father and loving husband of Eileen, Davy went to every game his son Stephen played in. The talented football and hurling ace raised eyebrows at the beginning of the season when he stepped away from the county footballers and started playing soccer for local intermediate club Belfast Celtic.

Many people assumed it was because he was disillusioned with being substituted in a couple of key games for the Saffrons in the 2019 season.

Nothing could have been further from the truth.

“The reason why I didn’t go back to the county was because I knew my Daddy wasn’t well and I didn’t want to be out of the house five or six times a week. I never told my Daddy the reason why but it was because of him. Playing soccer meant there was less time away from the house.

“People thought I left because I was disappointed at getting taken off a few times, but playing for Antrim were the best days of my life. I loved the fact that I was representing Rossa when I was playing for the county.”

While his father religiously attended all of his son’s games for club and county, nerves always got the better of him, to the point where he couldn’t actually watch the action.

In 2015, Stephen grabbed the all-important goal which saw Rossa seize the 2015 All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling title at Croke Park.

“He couldn’t watch a game. He would walk away and stand in the corner of the pitch. When we won the All-Ireland Intermediate final at Croke Park and I scored a goal in the second half, my Daddy didn’t see it because he couldn’t watch it. He was in behind the stand when I scored. He was just so nervous.

“He followed me everywhere. Every game we played with Antrim – down in Waterford and Leitrim – he was there. I was speaking to my brother Paul and he said: ‘You don’t understand how proud my Daddy was to see you lining out for Antrim.’

“Of course, when you’re younger you’re just oblivious to everything.”

Born in Derry, Davy’s family moved to Glengormley where he spent his childhood. He spent 40 years working for Royal Mail. He officially retired two weeks before his passing.

He later moved to west Belfast and became a playing member of O’Donnell’s GAC.

“He loved O’D’s but he ended up sending my brother [Paul] to Rossa when he was five and mummy said: ‘The day he sent Paul to Rossa, he cried his eyes out.’

“He realised this was for life. I’m a big fan of O’D’s, but Rossa has been the best thing that ever happened to me.”

With his sons and daughters joining Rossa, Davy became fully involved in all aspects of GAA life at the Shaw’s Road club, becoming senior reserve team manager and being forced to don his boots again at the ripe old age of 51 to make up the numbers.

“Anything Rossa ever ran, history walks, anything, he’d be the first one there. He just loved being with Rossa people,” said Stephen.

After a couple of seasons with the Antrim hurlers, Stephen decided to give the footballers a go – a decision, he says, was motivated by his father’s love for the Ulster Championship.

Although Antrim didn’t have a chance of upsetting Tyrone in last summer’s Ulster opener at The Athletic Ground, Stephen had fulfilled a life-time’s ambition.

“My decision to go with the football was because my Daddy would have gone to watch the Ulster Championship. So I was thinking: ‘I’d just love to be walking around the pitch knowing that he’d be sitting watching me.’

“He was my go-to man. I was being asked this year to go to the Antrim hurlers and the footballers and my Daddy said: ‘Do what makes you happy.’ He just loved the fact that I was playing for Antrim.

“It’s going to break my heart saying this, but I just loved putting on the jersey and running out knowing my Daddy was there.”

The Beatty family have been overwhelmed by the support they’ve received from the GAA and wider sporting community in west Belfast.

“Once the news broke on Monday night, I never thought text messages or words of support would make a difference. But it certainly has. It’s been incredible.

“I’ve never got so much comfort in my life. You don’t understand how that text makes you feel: ‘I’m thinking about you.’ I’m so thankful for them. Lenny Harbinson and Darren Gleeson [Antrim county managers] texted me as well. Every message has helped me.”

Stephen also thanked Belfast Celtic manager Stephen McAlorum for his unstinting support during his father’s illness and his team-mates.

“I thought I was just another player for them but the last couple of days has just shown me how much I mean to some of the players,” he said.

Tributes have flooded social media since news of Davy’s passing on Monday night. The O’Donovan Rossa club said: ‘A sad day in Rossa with the passing of a real gentleman Davy Beatty.

“Davy volunteered his time for years with our teams and at Rossa Park with a chat and smile for everyone. He’ll be missed by us all - our prayers with Eileen, Paul and Stephen, Gemma and Catherine. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam

Davy’s remains will be laid to rest after Requiem mass at St Theresa’s, Glen Road on Saturday (11am).