Donegal community devastated by death of young footballer

A small GAA community has been left devastated by the death of a young footballer celebrating Donegal’s first All-Ireland final in 20 years.

Andrew Duffy is believed to have tripped and fallen into the Royal Canal in north Dublin on his way to a friend’s flat.

The 24-year-old drowned at a lock beside Binns Bridge in Phibsboro just at 11.45pm last night.

Joe McDaid, chairman of the Termon club in north Donegal where Mr Duffy was a player and member, said it was a devastating loss for the team, village and county.

“It’s just a terrible tragedy for the area and the club to lose a man like Andrew,” he said.

“On behalf of the club, we just want to extend our sympathies to the Duffy family.”

Mr Duffy had been making his way to a house on the northside after deciding to stay in the city with a friend to savour Donegal’s semi-final victory over Cork.

A Garda spokeswoman said he was pulled from the water shortly after the alarm was raised.

He was taken to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead and a post-mortem examination was carried out.

Mr Duffy had earlier enjoyed the afternoon at Croke Park where his native Donegal beat Cork to secure an All-Ireland final spot for the first time in 20 years.

The highly regarded player was on the Termon team that won the All-Ireland Junior Gaeltacht title in June. He also played for the club’s senior side.

Mr McDaid added: “Andrew was just a great, great young fellow, and footballer. He was committed to everything that he did and just an all-round good fellow.”

In a tribute posted on the club’s Facebook page, a simple message read: “A loving son and brother. A kind and good neighbour. A gentleman. A great loss to the community and Termon GAA Club. One of our own. Rest in Peace Andrew.”

Jim McDaid, a doctor in Letterkenny and a former TD who knows the Duffy family, said Mr Duffy only decided to stay in Dublin for the night after the victory.

“It was a great day for Donegal and young men being young men they decided they were going to stay,” he told Highland Radio.

“They were on their way home last night when he tripped and fell into the canal.

“It is a tragedy and my sympathy goes to his family that we know well.”