Hurling and dual stars turn out for ‘the Canon’

Hurling legends and dual stars were among scores of mourners who attended the funeral of Archdeacon Michael O’Brien, best known as "the Canon" to a generation of Cork GAA fans.

Players who were the fiercest of rivals on the pitch turned up from around the country to pay their respects to the man who steered Cork to two All-Ireland senior hurling titles in 1984 and 1990.

Archdeacon O’Brien, who was made a vice-president of Cork County Board in 2003 and was president of Blackrock Hurling Club at the time of his death, also led UCC to eight consecutive Fitzgibbon Cup victories in the ’80s, winning 10 titles in 11 years.