Waterford GAA laments the sad passing of the man who ran Fraher Field

Always the first to arrive and the last to leave Fraher Field on match days, he took great pride ensuring that all was right for players and supporters alike and often returned to the ground afterwards to help reunite many people with various lost property

DÉISE DELIGHT: Ollie Drummey's smiling welcome was one of the reasons Fraher Field in Waterford is such a popular haunt with GAA supporters

He was the first to arrive at Waterford GAA’s Fraher Field in Dungarvan – and undoubtedly the last to leave. And for Déise supporters of club and county, his absence will leave a huge hole in the match day experience.

Every GAA ground in the country has a special caretaker, groundsman or scoreboard operator who become part of the fabric and the occasion, the gatekeeper who keeps the operation ticking over, seamlessly. In Waterford, Ollie Drummey was that man, and his sudden passing on Sunday in advance of the Waterford SFC semi-final between Rathgormack and Ballinacourty puts the relevance of winning and losing on the day into the sharpest perspective.

Waterford GAA said it was ‘deeply saddened’ at the passing of Ollie, who alongside his late father Tommy, gave a lifetime of dedicated service to Waterford GAA.

It explained: “For over 30 years Ollie carried out his duties in Fraher Field with an enormous sense of pride, whilst his warm and caring personality always shone through with players, mentors, officials or journalists that met Ollie down the years at the famed Shandon venue.

“Always the first to arrive and the last to leave Fraher Field on match days, Ollie took great pride ensuring that everything was just right for players and supporters alike and often returned to the grounds in his own time to help reunite many people with various lost property.

“Ollie Drummey Corner will forever bear his name in Fraher Field and whilst we will miss him greatly in Fraher Field for the many jobs he carried out there, it is his fabulously warm personality that will be missed by most by all who knew him. We extend our sincere condolences to Ollie’s family, friends, and all who knew him,” said a Waterford GAA statement.

“What a loyal servant to Waterford GAA,” added former GAA president Sean Kelly, while Ollie’s counterpart at Cork’s Páirc Ui Rinn, Derek Connolly of the Seandún division in the city said: My sympathies to the Drummey family on the passing of Ollie. Was always welcoming to us all from the Rebel County and great banter.”

In iffering their condolences, Lismore GAA said: "Not a player or club person in.the county and beyond that hadn't met Ollie. Always so helpful and everything in order for all teams. His presence over by the dressing rooms and his throne under the scoreboard won't be the same again."

Saod Katie Ferncombe of Dungarvan GAA: "The scoreboard king of Fraher Field. We’ll miss the chats over a cup of tea and a few sambos under the scoreboard. Little did we think on Saturday it would be our last cuppa together. So many fond memories shared from Fraher over the years — it won’t be the same without him. Ollie was one in a million. Hopefully Waterford will win a few All-Irelands for him to watch down on."

Ollie's remains will repose at Drohan’s Funeral Home, Dungarvan on Wednesday from 4-7pm with funeral mass Tbursday at 11a.m in St. Mary’s Parish church.