The late Simon Canning It was with great sadness and regret that we all learned of the untimely death of our friend and team-mate Simon Canning on January 21, 2007 at the age of 29. Simon arrived in Carrigallen in 1993 after his parents bought a house in Newtown gore. He very quickly settled into life at Carrigallen Vocational School. Inevitably Simon did this through his sporting prowess. Simon's first love was soccer but as there was no soccer club around at the time, he quickly gained a place on our Under 16 team lining out on the team that went on to win the Dolan Cup before losing our to St Mary's in the Division One League final. Simon also starred for the vocational school team lining our in his favourite full back position where his searing pace was a valuable asset. Although Simon was a great sportsman, it was his sharp wit and sense of humour that endeared him to us all. Added to that was his fierce sense of loyalty to his friends both on and off the field of play. Simon moved back to Dublin for a number of years but returned to settle in Carrigcallen in the late 90s. He made his Senior Championship debut in 1999 against Fenagh in Cloone playing a stormer and earning many pundits vote as Man of the Match. In 2000, Simon played his best football ever. Noel Lyons played him at full back and during this campaign Simon was our best defender as the Seniors got to the quarter finals before going down to Melvin Gaels. Simon showed all the attributes needed to be a top class footballer. He had pace, strength, workrate and a great ability to read a game. Above all though, Simon was a clean footballer. He played the game hard but fair. After spending a year working in America, Simon returned to play Senior and Junior football under Seamus O'Rourke. Of late Simon spent more time in Dublin, coming down to Newtowngore for the weekends. While in Dublin, Simon was starring on the local soccer scene and he had qualified as an FAI Soccer Coach. He also got involved with the charity Playing for Life of which Sports Reporter Tracy Piggott is a patron. Indeed Tracy gave Simon a glowing tribute during his interview with Pat Kenny on the The Late Late Show. She mentioned Simon's Charity work in South Africa and Kenya in 2006 where he spent three weeks playing football and coaching homeless children on the streets. To Simon's heartbroken parents Dermot and Louise, and his sisters Grainne and Eimer we offer our deepest sympathy on their terrible loss. May his gentle soul rest in peace. Courtesy of the Leitrim Observer 9 February 2007 Tweet

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