The town of Dungannon came to a standstill on Sunday as mourners lined the streets to pay their respects to Tyrone GAA hurling captain Damian Casey.
The 29-year-old who was regarded as one of the finest hurlers to ever hail from the county died suddenly whilst in Spain for a friend's wedding on June 17.
As part of a final farewell to the talented GAA player, Damian's remains were brought to his beloved Eoghan Ruadh hurling club before moving on to St Patrick's Church, Dungannon for requiem mass.
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Hundreds gathered around the GAA grounds under a cloud of darkness and rain as his teammates flanked the hearse as a mark of respect. The hearse then drove onto the pitch Damian had played on so many times in his short life, and paused in the centre facing the goals, so the star could grace it with his presence one last time.
A long period of reflective silence was observed by the crowds gathered as the rain poured from the grey skies, before a warm round of applause as the hearse departed for the short drive to the church at the other side of the town as the sunshine reappeared.
Mourners packed into St Patrick's Church for the funeral mass, which began with special items from Damian's life brought forward to the altar including photographs, Eoghan Ruadh and Tyrone hurling jerseys as well as a hurl, sliotar and helmet.
The Very Rev Dean Kevin Donaghy led mourners in prayer and offered comforting words to Damian's parents Susan and Sean and his sisters Louise and Catherine in their time of grief, whilst Co Tyrone native Malachi Cush and a traditional music group led the musical aspects of the mass.
The large congregation in the Church, those outside and watching from across the world online heard how the talented sportsman spent much of his youth playing football and hurling with his cousins and neighbours.
As well as his love of all things GAA, Dean Donaghy recalled how he inherited a love for Manchester United FC from his mother.
He said: "Damain's first taste of stardom was maybe back in P6 and P7 when he featured in the Mini 7s at half-time in the All-Ireland hurling finals. He maybe wasn't supposed to have been there two years in a row but it was someone else's selection procedure that got him down their twice."
"In his teenage years it was clear that Damian could have been every bit as good a footballer as he was a hurler but he couldn't do both and Damian's choice was the hurling. The speed and skill and scoring, drew this dynamic sportsman to the hurling core."
Dean Donaghy continued: "He was the perfect gentleman who could relate so exceptionally well to everyone from young children to the elderly and everyone in between. Always a man of good character and good humour, always more likely to be speaking words of praise than of criticism. An inspirational leader, who sought to motivate, encourage and so bring others along, a man of integrity and honour."
The congregation were also told of how in all of his games as a hurler, he was never sent off, which Dean Donaghy pointed out 'said a lot about his character, temperament, he could channel his passion for the game into earnest effort and dedicated commitment.'
Having captained his county to the Nicky Rackard title in Croke Park just last month where he himself scored 14 points, Dean Donaghy summed up the star saying: "Damian was constantly a man to lead by example, giving his all, a leader, an ambassador, an absolute gentleman."
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