Cavan footballing legend John Joe O'Reilly was honoured by the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Dermot Earley, after a new stand in the Training Centre Sports Grounds at the Curragh was dedicated to the former Commandant. In attendance at the dedication were members of O'Reilly's family, his native club Cornafean and the Cavan County Board. John Joe O'Reilly was commissioned to the Defence Force in 1939 and was promoted to Commandant, while being awarded with the Emergency Service medal, in 1945. Two years prior to being commissioned, John Joe, recognised as one of Cavan's greatest ever footballers, joined the Breffni Blies team with his brother, Tom, and back-boned his county to 11 Ulster senior titles, while captaining his side to two consecutive All-Ireland titles in 1947 and 1948. O'Reilly suffered a serious injury in 1952 on the playing field from which he never fully recovered, and in the General Military Hospital at the Curragh he died on November 21 of that year at the age of 34. Tweet

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