There was a huge and highly representative attendance at both the removal of the mortal remains of the late Kieran Finlay, Knockmaddy, Ballybay, on Friday morning last and at the concelebrated Requiem Mass in St Patrick's Church, the church where Kieren had attended Mass all his life and where he had also been a member of the choir. Guards of honour were provided by the players and members of the Ballybay Pearse Brothers club, the members of the Monaghan county team of 1979, members of the current and former county senior squads and a host of others from far and wide who had come to pay their last respects to a man that everyone described as one of nature's gentlemen. His coffin was carried in relays on the final leg of the journey from the Castleblayney Rd to St Patrick's Church. Chief celebrant the Revd Gerard McSorley in his homily spoke at length about Kieran and paid tribute to him for his qualities as a member of the local community, a member of the Church community, as a father, as a family man and as a person who was simply dedicated to whatever task in hand there was. He spoke too of his working life, first qualifying as a Laboratory Technician with Glaxo at Lough Egish and then going on to work with the Weights & Measures Office, a position he remained in for the rest of his life. He then went on to say though that it was for his prowess on the football field that Kieran became so well-known not only in Monaghan and Ulster but right across Ireland. He spoke of his achievements with the local Ballybay club and with the various county teams as he had represented Monaghan at minor, under 21 and senior level, recalling that the highlight of his inter county career was winning an Ulster senior football championship medal in 1979. Playing against Donegal in that year's Ulster final Kieran went on to set a record for a personal score in an Ulster final when he hit 1-9, with that record standing for over 20 years. He had also represented Ulster in the then Compromise Rules and his provincial jersey was a treasured memento. Fr. McSorley also paid tribute to Kieran for the strength and fortitude he had shown during his life having undergone open-heart surgery at the age of 36 and also when learning of the extent of his illness and how he had been so positive right to the end. Prior to the prayers of commendation at the conclusion of the Requiem Mass his brother Gerry paid a very personal and a very emotional tribute to "our boy" which concluded with a spontaneous round of applause that Kieran would have appreciated. Tweet

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