Footballer Jody Gormley Dead at 53

A legend among Gaelic football stars, Jody Gormley, has sadly passed away.

Gormley announced about six weeks ago that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

Sadly, that battle is already lost. Gormley was just 53 years old.

A Legend is Gone

Gormley transitioned over to coaching after his playing days were over.

So as not to be a distraction for his players, Gormley did not announce the diagnosis to his team until after the season was over.

Last year, Tyrone Senior Football won the title, but this year the team was out in the county final, at which point Gormley told the team of his battle with cancer.

During a recent interview, Gormley stated that he did not fear meeting his end.

He stated, "I've felt blessed my entire life. The sadness is the people you're leaving behind.

"That I'll not get to see my son, he's training hard with Trillick, he's come back after a couple of years, that I'll not get to see him play and I'll not get to see my family grow up and mature.

"That's not scary but sad really. That's the reality. When you peel it all back, it's the people close to you that you're not going to have those experiences with."

As a player, Gormley had reached the All-Ireland Final in 1995, where he scored, but it was not enough to defeat Dublin, who beat Gormley’s team by one.

Gormley’s coaching career was just as successful as his playing days when he suffered a stroke during a workout.

That would eventually lead to his cancer diagnosis after doctors ordered a series of tests to figure out what was wrong with the footballer.

Gormley is survived by his wife, Deirdre, and their two daughters, Aine and Niamh.