Earley influence will always be a spur for Sarsfields

It was a journey that gathered pace from what is now known as Earley’s Barn in Cloonelt to the house in Gortaganny that came with his father’s job as principal of the national school, before ending on the other side of the country in Newbridge.

Of all the departures, the greatest wrench for Dermot Earley came in his 30s, when the tortuous route to Roscommon from Kildare, travelled so regularly for club and county, took its toll. With a heavy heart he said goodbye to Michael Glavey’s.

Once he threw his lot in with Sarsfields though, it was lock, stock and barrel. The impact was immediate and his influence continued to be felt until his death in 2010.