CAOLAN Finnegan ran out with his Crossmaglen team-mates for their Armagh Senior Championship opener against Clan na Gael last season.
A year later and Cross begin the defence of their county title at the same venue, against the same opposition but without their friend and team-mate ‘Stringer’. His absence will be on their minds when the ball is thrown in on Sunday as it has been since the game at Davitt Park last year.
Caolan, who would have been involved in Armagh’s run to the Sam Maguire this year, just wasn’t himself that day in 2023 and there was widespread shock when he was subsequently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer.
Since then the 20-year-old has been undergoing intensive treatment and his club and community have thrown themselves into raising money for his care.
“Clan na Gael was Stringer’s last game for us,” explained Crossmaglen manager Anthony Cunningham.
“It’s only now in hindsight, when we look back, that you realise what was wrong. The lad didn’t perform like he had always done for us. In that game we ended up having to sub him off. It was the last game and as we go into this weekend against the same opposition, that’s not lost on any of us - management or players.
“Caolan is going to be part of our focus and our narrative this year is to make sure we can perform to our best.”
Cunningham explained that the plight of their team-mate and friend had put everything – including football – into perspective for everyone at the club.
“It’s difficult for us because obviously he was a teammate but, first and foremost, he is a friend of all the players,” he said.
“He grew up with a lot of the boys and his illness has put everything into perspective for all of us.
“We all think we have problems but it’s the old adage – you can have a thousand problems but when you have a health problem you only have one problem.”
The former St Colman’s College student underwent an important brain scan this week and Cunningham said the club are hoping for “better days ahead”.
“There’s a lot of effort being made to raise money and a lot of prayers being said for the kid,” he said.
“Hopefully there’s better days ahead for him.”
