GAA starlet pays touching tribute to Dillon Quirke who will ‘inspire Tipperary for years to come' after All-Ireland win
TIPPERARY captain Sam O'Farrell dedicated their All-Ireland U20 hurling title to Dillon Quirke.
The
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Tipperary won the All-Ireland U20 hurling title
Credit: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
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Captain Sam O'Farrell dedicated it to Dillon Quirke
Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
Captain Sam O'Farrell used a section of his victory speech to pay tribute to Dillon Quirke, who
The Tipp skipper said: "On happy occasions like this, there's always some sadness when we think of the people who are no longer with us to celebrate this victory.
"There's one man in particular I want to mention, who wherever Tipperary hurling teams play will never be forgotten.
"That man is Dillon Quirke.
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"An All-Ireland winner at under-21 level in 2018. For the blue and gold, he always played with pride, determination, courage and skill.
"And it is those qualities that we wanted to bring here today and represent the Tipperary jersey as Dillon did when he played.
"Dillon will continue to inspire Tipperary hurlers for many years to come."
Quirke's memory had also been
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It came ten years after their last one in 2015, when Quirke was part of the team.
And
Tipperary GAA star 'had to do live apology on RTE' the day after cursing during All-Ireland interview -
He said: 'We won here in 2015, Ronan Teehan was the captain. Dillon Quirke was corner-back the same day.
"There is a whole load of the lads sitting in Sydney at the moment in a pub having a barbeque celebrating, they couldn't get home, they're working.
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"There's lads all around the world. But Dillon couldn't be there.
'I didn't want to say anything to any of the boys all week, I put on his jersey from 2015 underneath my own today.
"I wanted him here. He helped us. He was something else.
"He is such a loss to Clonoulty, the school, everything. I didn't want to burden the boys with anything about emotion.
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"We had a picture inside in the dressing-room of Dillon. We don't kind of allude to it or mention it but the boys know who he is.
'It's for us and the staff and the people involved. Evelyn Heffernan works with us and two of her boys Enda and Ronan were playing in 2015, best of friends with Dillon.
'You just knew coming down there was something bigger happening.
"Just delighted to think of Dillon and to remember him on the day because he lived for Harty and just loved that medal so much."
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GOOD CAUSE
In the wake of Dillon's untimely death, his dad set up the Dillon Quirke Foundation to help screen young people for cardiac issues.
And speaking back in January, he believes his son's passing can
He told The Irish Sun: 'I've heard dozens of stories from parents that ring to say, 'we're obviously very sad about what happened to you and your family, but you've now saved our child'.
'And so, what better story could one have to hear? To hear that is tremendous for us.
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'It's a big solace to me personally because we're doing so much with the foundation.'
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