O'Connor, Michael
May 18, 2012Michael O'Connor was a quite, shy and innocent young boy when he entered the gates of our local park to pursue his interest in playing football with the rest of the young boys of the area. Perhaps being a little less forward than the rest of the lads, having come to town from the quieter and more innocent environs of Fenagh National School, and the more relaxed surrounds of a rural habitat. The local lads, his new friends in town made him feel very welcome and Michael settled into what was to establish itself as Michael's sporting passion, the practicing and playing of Gaelic football. He was a keen student of the game and was found more than not in the local Park with a few of the lads, perfecting the skills of the game, or drills taken from on/of Heffos sessions, or some routine prepared by Paul McGuinness or Padraig M Loughlin. Michael would be referred to affectionately locally as the young lad going to or coming back form the park with the bag on his back such was his dedication to perfecting his skills. He first came under my tutelage in his final year playing on our U12 team where he piled his trade primarily as a centre half back that was as I recall 2003.
The team competed respectably without achieving any major success. However in every game, Michael's enthusiasm grew and grew and the proximity of success inspired him and he looked forward to the experience paying off at the U14 grade. Despite the lack of success, Michael enjoyed the games and was thrilled to wear the green and white of Mohill and was proud to represent his family on the local team. The U14 grade was to prove equally unsuccessful on the field of play in terms of trophies won, but the further development in physique and skills base left Michael and his team mates in a good place for competitions at the U16 grade. Michael burst onto the training pitch for the start of the U16 phase in 2006, quiet the young man and already prepared to compete at the highest level, already speaking in terms of winning championships with the club at the highest level. While that year was again to prove fruitless from the viewpoint on trophies won, it was to prove to have been Michael's swansong to boyhood football. In early 2007 training for our U16 tem commenced and such was Michael's dedication to training, enthusiasm, commitment and his level of physical development he was appointed captain of the team. This role was to add to an extra and new dimension to Michael's game in that he assumed the mantle of Leader a burden, which he carried very easily. In every game he grew in stature, taking the ball and leading his comrades onto the field of play.
Michael led from the front and his leadership qualities inspired the lads who responded to his encouragement on and off the field and performed magnificently. His efforts as a Leader untimely brought the lads to success, when they defeated Glenfarne in a memorable Final played in Aughnasheelin. This was to have a significant step in the further development of Michael in terms of the inspirational figure he became both in sporting and social terms. Not alone could the lads walk the walk but not they could talk the talk. That occasion I believe was the point where Michael became a very confident young man both as a young athlete, but also as a young socialite. Significantly it was also the year our club won its first Senior Championship title in 36 years. Due to this fact Michael was now looking forward very eagerly to his eligibility to pay adult football with our big boys. This was also a time when Michael became quite the fashionista, where he embraced the team ethos on the playing field and also discovered the spree de core and social element that should be part of any team sport. At this stage, Michael was developing into a very manly figure much in the mould of his late father Oliver RIP.
Michael would enjoy his forays at adult level during 2008 and the early days of 2009, but unfortunately his adult playing days were cut short with the onset of the illness that would lead to his departure from his beloved mother Anne, his siblings Thomas, Maureen, Sandra, Christopher, Teresa, Ian, Peter and Nicole and of course his nephews and nieces of whom he was extremely fond. Michael left an indelible impression on these with whom he came into contact, either in the sporting environment or in the social arena. He was one of life's true gentlemen, courteous, considerate and worldly-wise way beyond his tender years. He was a credit to himself in his interaction with others, a credit to his family in his representation of them through his demeanour. Many people go through a lifetime of participation in Cumann Lúthchleas Gael without fully understanding its fundamentals or its ethos but from a very early stage in your development Michael, you got it! You embraced the total package the GAA culture.
Our only regret is that you did not get a longer playing time with us to showcase your talents and help your extended family in Mohill GAA club, to benefit from your undoubted skills and commitment to our cause. Without doubt the loss to our club is minuscule compared to the loss being experienced by your Mother Ann, the extended family and your many very close, dedicated and loyal friends at this time. May I on behalf of Mohill GAA club offer you our deepest sympathy at your sad loss and assure you all that we share in your sorrow. Táim cinte go mbeidh tú ag imirt cluiche peile leis na nangail agus Tusa ar an líne leath cúl agus Phili ar an líne leath thosaigh at neamh inniú. Táim cinte freisin go mbeidh an bua agaibh. Tá brón orainn anseo as ocht an tamilín gear a caith tú in ar measc ach bhí usaid specialta ag Dia ar an foireann specialta sin agus tá an fear ceart aige anois chun an obair a deanamh. - Comhladh Sámh a Mhichéal, Stiofán O Floinn.
(Text courtesy of Leitrim Observer 18/05/12) Tweet
