‘Your ghost will be a legend like that of Sam Maguire’

“Your ghost will be a legend like the famous Sam Maguire,” John Egan Jr said in a poignant tribute to his father, John, before shouldering the tricolour-clad coffin out of the Church of the Real Presence in Curraheen, Bishopstown.

He told how three words summed his father up perfectly — calm, composed, class.

“After every chat we had, I would feel I could take on the world,” John Jr said. “As you always said, it’s a pity we didn’t play together, we would have done some damage.”

He choked back tears as told how his father instilled a sense of self-belief in him. “If I turn out to be half the man you were, I know I can’t go wrong. I’ll always be your son and you will always be my hero,” he said.

John Egan’s Kerry jersey, a football, his Garda cap, and a prayer book were brought to the altar as gifts. His cousin, Eamonn Egan, told how proud John was of his wife Mary and his children, Máirín and John. From John, he received regular updates about John Jr’s progression at British soccer club Sunderland, while Máirín had recently scored three goals for her local club in Bishopstown.

“Like father, like daughter. He lived for Mary, Máirín and John, and will look down on them now from above as they live their lives,” Eamonn said.

Chief concelebrant Fr Robert Brophy said John’s untimely passing was made all the more tragic because of his determined battle against a two-year illness. “I’m told these were in many ways his happiest years, when he revealed his true character and courage, determination, his great humility and great humanity that he showed at the height of his football career.”

Mr Egan was buried in Chetwynd cemetery in Togher, Cork.