Glentoran boss Mick McDermott says Jay and Rory Donnelly deserve immense credit and respect for playing for the Irish League club on the same week as their mother’s passing following illness.
Jay scored a brace and Rory also starred in Monday night’s crucial 2-1 win over Cliftonville at Solitude, a result that eased the Big Two giants up to second in the Danske Bank Premiership.
The two brothers were plunged into mourning yesterday with Rory confirming his “beautiful mother” had “gained her wings and went to heaven” in the early hours of Thursday.
The former Swansea City striker added on Twitter: “To say I am heartbroken is an understatement. I feel like I’ve had my heart ripped out.
“But I’m happy she is no longer in any pain. Love you mummy.”
Glentoran offered their condolences on social media and Oval boss McDermott paid a further tribute to his players during his weekly press conference.
He said: “It’s always hard when any family goes through something like that, but to be so young and to have that happen to one of your parents must be really hard to deal with.
“For them as a family to say they should play on and the effort they put in, it shows they have a good relationship with the club and they want to be here.
“Jay has shown that week in, week out, and it’s the same with Rory.
“I think it’s a credit to them that they showed up (at Solitude) and gave their all for Glentoran when they were going through that.”
Jay Donnelly took his season’s tally to 23 goals in only 26 games for the Glens in Monday night’s 2-1 win at Cliftonville.
He glanced home the equaliser just before the break and headed the winner from a Hrvoje Plum corner five minutes into the second period.
The 26-year-old, who joined the Mersey Street club last year, has scored 10 goals in his last eight outings in the Danske Bank Premiership.
