A club in Lurgan has called for Armagh supporters to remember their underage player, Caoimhín Mallon, during Sunday’s Ulster final in Clones. The 15-year-old St Paul’s GAC player died in tragic circumstances last Sunday. During his funeral Mass on Thursday, his older brother spoke of Caoimhín’s love of Gaelic football and how he was a huge fan of Armagh and his home club, St Paul’s.
Armagh fans paid a similar tribute to Natalie McNally – the murdered Lurgan mum-to-be – when Mayo visited the Athletic Grounds during the National League earlier this year. Thousands of fans are set to descend on St Tiernach’s Park for what will be Armagh’s first Ulster final since 2008.
Despite the scramble for tickets having proven a distracting sideshow for Armagh’s supporters ahead of this Sunday’s showpiece, the controversial stepping aside of Derry’s manager Rory Gallagher, following allegations of domestic abuse, has thrown the Oak Leafers into disarray.
Armagh’s league season may have faltered, with relegation to Division Two, but defeats by the narrowest of margins against the country’s top sides may have tempered disappointment slightly. Derry’s rise as a formidable force over the last 18 months has been impressive and – regardless of any off-the-field issues – will be going into Sunday’s game as favourites, with the aim of claiming back-to-back Anglo Celt titles for only the second time in their history.
Armagh and Derry will face off in the Ulster final at Clones on Sunday with a poignant minute of applause planned in Caoimhín Mallon’s memory. The 15-year-old died in tragic circumstances last week and was an avid fan of Gaelic football, especially Armagh and his home club, St Paul’s GAC. St Paul’s issued a statement asking all Armagh supporters attending the match to partake in a minute’s applause for Caoimhín at the 15-minute mark to honour his memory.
Caoimhín’s big brother, Dáire, paid a touching tribute to him during his funeral Mass on Thursday, where he spoke about Caoimhín’s love of Gaelic football and explained how his brother was the most dedicated fan of Armagh and St Paul’s. He reminisced on Caoimhín’s short yet impactful life, describing him as a valuable part of the community.
The Ulster final match between Armagh and Derry at Clones was viewed as a sell-out event with over 30,000 fans eager to attend after Armagh booked their place in the final for the first time since 2008, following a replay victory over Fermanagh. Derry qualified for the final by defeating Monaghan and Fermanagh in their respective fixtures.
Despite Armagh’s struggles in the league season and their relegation to Division Two, three victories over Division 3 sides in Antrim, Cavan and Down ensured their path to the final was relatively straightforward. Derry, who are the current reigning Ulster champions, celebrated a tremendous rise to the top in the previous 18 months with victories against several of the country’s top teams.
There has been some controversy in the lead up to this game as Derry have suffered a setback following the stepping aside of manager Rory Gallagher over allegations of domestic violence. In spite of this, Derry’s record and their current status as reigning champions has solidified their favourites’ status ahead of this crucial match.
One fan posted on social media: “The minute applause on the 15th minute at the match on Sunday is such a lovely tribute to Caoimhín Mallon. Rest easy little legend.” Another said: “The loss of Caoimhín is so sad. Hopefully, this tribute can help bring some sense of comfort to his family and friends.”
This emotional tribute is another perfect example of how sports can bring people together, even during difficult times. It also signifies how important sports can be to young players, like Caoimhín, who dream of playing for their favourite team one day. The minute of applause will ensure that the young man’s memory is honoured and respected by fans across Ireland.
