There has been shock and sadness across the county at the tragic death of promising young Galway under 21 footballer, Galway United and St. Patrick's Club soccer player Matthew Berry from Caherlistrane in a car crash. The single vehicle accident, in which two other young men were also injured, happened not far from his home near Pollnahaille, Caltra, Belclare in the early hours of a Monday. The car in which the young men were travelling, collided with a tree. Matthew Berry (20) from Manusflynn, was a popular young man in the Caherlistrane area, where he played gaelic football and soccer with the local clubs. He moved to the parish with his family in 1993. His mother passed away two years ago and the young man lived with his grandmother, Maureen Berry. His uncle, Paddy Berry, who is a chef at The Angler's Rest Hotel, Headford also moved to live in the Headford area some years ago. The parish of Caherlistrane, and neighbouring parishes, are in shock this week at the tragic death of this fine young footballer. Matthew had been training with the County Galway senior panel. He played with the Galway under 21 team last Tuesday against Limerick in a challenge game and was asked to train with the county senior panel by team manager John O'Mahony. He was a brilliant goalkeeper in both gaelic football and soccer and was the goalkeeper on the Galway United Youth team. "Matthew lived for sport. He had such potential on the playing fields, he was also loved by everybody who knew him and the whole area is in shock," said Caherlistrane GAA official and well known referee Vincent Judge. Matthew Berry was a star member of the Caherlistrane underage team which won the national final of Feile in 1997. Even back then he was being spoken about in GAA circles as a young player who was destined for great things on the playing fields as an adult. The young man who died was a past pupil of Presentation College, Headford and he had been working with an engineering firm on the Headford Road on the outskirts of Galway. Courtesy of the Tuam Herald July 2004 Tweet

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