McAnallen mother sends sympathy to hurler’s family

THE mother of Tyrone football star Cormac McAnallen yesterday told how the sudden death of Limerick hurler Willie O’Brien brought back all the pain of her own son’s tragic death.

Mr O’Brien, from Knockainey, was found dead by his mother at the family home on Saturday.

Along with his twin brother, Donncha, he was due to line out for the Knockainey hurling side on Sunday for a crucial relegation game against Dromin Athlacca.

Willie, who would have turned 28 later this week, died in his sleep from Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.

He had gone to bed early on Friday night feeling tired after training with the hurling team.

Speaking on the Liveline RTÉ radio programme yesterday, Bridget McAnallen extended her sympathy to the O’Brien family.

“When I heard of this young man’s death it brought it (Cormac’s death) back. I feel an awful lot of sympathy for the family,” she said. “In one of these sudden deaths there is no preparation for it as a lot of these people were like Cormac. The person is healthy, and in this case he was a young hurler. He was obviously healthy and playing sport and had no symptoms and you are not expecting anything.”

Willie O’Brien won an intermediate All-Ireland hurling medal with Limerick in 1998. He was a member of the county senior panel for a period and was regarded as the outstanding player on the Knockainey side where he played at full back.

There was a huge attendance at the removal of Willie O’Brien from O’Leary’s funeral home in Hospital last night to Knockainey church when mourners queued for hours.

The funeral Mass will take place at 11am today with burial in the adjoining cemetery.