Antrim's Gerard Walsh paid a touching tribute to the late Ryan Straney following his starring performance as his side shocked Wexford in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.
Straney, who played club GAA with Lamh Dhearg, tragically lost his life in a car crash in Australia earlier this month at the age of 27.
His requiem mass took place on Saturday, April 27, as hundreds of mourners paid their respects in West Belfast.
Hours later, Antrim's hurlers battled hard for a stunning victory against Wexford on the same day and Walsh played a crucial role for his county.
He showed incredible composure when the match was level at 2-20 apiece with the clock in the red, expertly striking a sideline cut over the crossbar to give his team a late lead.
27 April 2024; Gerard Walsh of Antrim celebrates after scoring the winning point in the Leinster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 2 match between Antrim and Wexford at Corrigan Park in Belfast. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Antrim ultimately doubled that advantage and saw out a brilliant win, made all the more remarkable by the context of Walsh's heroics.
Gerard Walsh Pays Ryan Straney Tribute After Win
BBC's GAA host Mark Sidebottom spoke to Walsh after the win, and beautifully articulated what was a fine tribute from Walsh to his late friend.
"After the match I interviewed Gerard Walsh and he said, 'Mark, I am going to keep my helmet on.
"I said, 'Why are you keeping that helmet on?' and he said, 'It's personal'.
"And it was really personal because after the match he came up to me and said the reason he kept that helmet on is because Ryan Straney - who lost his life in Australia - that it was his helmet and he bought it off him six years ago.
Saffron hurler Gerard Walsh pays tribute to the late Ryan Straney following Antrim's victory over Wexford at Corrigan Park on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/sXQ3KtoBWh
— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) April 28, 2024
"Ryan Straney, of course, (is) the young man from the Lamh Dhearg GAA club who tragically lost his life in Australia and was buried this weekend.
"And he (Walsh) said it was all about recognising how precarious and how fragile life is.
"I think it is appropriate that we offer our condolences not just to the Straney family but to the entire Lamh Dhearg family."
What a point ! Gerard Walsh pic.twitter.com/Inm7SUwRCt
— Sean Kelly (@seankelly2301) April 27, 2024
A wonderful act from Walsh in what is a time of mourning for the GAA community across the country.
There is a GoFundMe page for Ryan Straney which you can see by clicking here.
