Kerry boss Eamonn Fitzmaurice ‘numb’ at loss of great friend Paddy Curtin

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice used the word “numb”, and it’s as good as anything, to articulate the sense of devastation at the premature death of Moyvane’s Paddy Curtin.

The 26-year-old was Fitzmaurice’s type of player.

Intensely proud of his North Kerry heritage. Hard as nails. All about the next ball. The type of player you’d walk down Mean Street with.

“I’m still numb on hearing last night’s terrible news,” admitted Fitzmaurice, a Feale Rangers colleague of Curtin’s.

“Paddy was a great team-mate, a great friend, and a great player to coach. He was talented, relentless, and as tough as nails. He was extremely proud of his family, his club Moyvane, and of his career with Liebherr. He will be greatly missed.”

Aidan O’Mahony isn’t the sort to take a backward step either, and he also commended Curtin’s qualities yesterday, saying he was an “absolute gent and a warrior on the pitch”.

Colm Cooper played alongside Curtin in the inside-forwards during the 2012 and 2013 campaigns, and expressed his devastation at the passing of “our great friend”.

Kerry midfielder David Moran added: “Heartbreaking. Played primary game and Kerry senior with him. A great player and the life of all squads. May he rest in peace.”

Darran O’Sullivan agreed, tweeting: “Great player but an even better guy who’ll be sorely missed.”

Moyvane GAA chairman Johnny Stack said the club was very proud of what Paddy had achieved.

“We’ll miss him. More than anything, everybody in the club will rally around his mum and dad and give them what support we can,” he said.

GPA chief executive Dessie Farrell said Curtin’s tragic demise has come as a terrible shock to the GAA community.