Ballinderry Shamrocks

And he charted an often successful but occasionally controversial course through the world of GAA with a smile on his face.

The former Derry manager, who took his native county to their only All Ireland title to date in 1993, left a rich legacy not only at inter-county level but within the club and Higher Education sectors to which he transported his managerial nous with considerable impact.

Honest almost to a fault, frequently whimsical and eternally modest, he was never happier than when in the midst of his players whether they wore the jerseys of his home club Ballymaguigan, the famed red and white of Derry or the blue of Cavan.

Other colours also added to the kaleidoscope of a memorable sporting journey - those of Ballinderry Shamrocks and Athlone for whom he played and those of Kildress, Round Towers London and Gowna (Cavan) whom he managed.

A club senior championship medal winner with Ballymaguigan at just 14, he was to land a similar honour with Ballinderry Shamrocks almost twenty years later, supplementing these with medals won while turning out for Athlone.

But if his playing ability brought rewards, these paled into insignificance against his colossal achievements as a manger.

Even before he brought Derry to the pinnacle of success in 1993 - his son Gary was a member of that team - he was in charge when Ulster and All Ireland Minor titles were won in 1983 with the provincial accolade being retained the following year.

He again pulled the strings when the Ulster U21 Championship arrived in 1985 and masterminded two National League titles in 1992 and 2000.

But 1993 was his big year - Derry were crowned Ulster champions before overcoming Cork in the All Ireland final amid an outpouring of emotion that had not been seen before or since.

Yet through it all Eamonn remained unflappable, quietly leaving the Croke Park stage on the most memorable day in Derry’s sporting history content in the knowledge that a job had been well done. And that perhaps best illustrated his philosophy on life in general.

He may have been loved by the media but he never sought their attention, he was passionately immersed in GAA but frequently cocked a snook at what he felt was its bureaucracy, he loved football but despised the cynicism which tended to blight the sport.

And his curt one-liners are already part of GAA folklore.

His admonishment of the Press on one famous occasion consisted of the immortal: “Youse boys know nothing!”

And, indeed, maybe he had a point.

For Eamonn had his own particular insight as to how football should be played - and it certainly served both him and his various teams well.

The amalgam of his homely virtues of decency, integrity and sincerity were entwined with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all aspects of GAA.

His strategy may invariably have had its roots in simplicity but it was never less than hugely effective. And his motivational skills had their platform in that most basic of all sporting precepts - pride in the jersey.

Those who might have attempted to live above their station were quickly brought into line, those whom he felt deserved support found him to be a true friend.

The hurt was discernible, of course, when the then Derry board refused to sanction his re-appointment in the wake of that stunning ‘93 triumph.

But there were no recriminations, no wallowing in self-pity.

A bricklayer by trade, he simply resumed doing what he did best - building winning teams.

And it was Cavan club Gowna who were the beneficiaries of his many-sided attributes when he led them to county championship titles in 1996, ‘97, ‘99, 2000 and 2002.

No wonder he enjoyed iconic status in Breffni territory given that he also helped with the management of the county team for a short spell.

If family and football were his dominant interests, then country music and the outdoor life held huge appeal for him.

When he was forced to call time on his role with Cavan through illness, it marked the beginning of the end of his active involvement in the GAA.

But he had long before then assured himself of a special place in the annals of Irish sport.

Sadly, we may not see his like again.

sorce: Belfast Telegraph