Tributes have been paid to one of Tyrone GAA’s legendary figures, Jody O’Neil, who passed away at the weekend.
A former Red Hand player and manager, he captained the first Tyrone team to win an Ulster SFC title in 1956, aged just 19.
The Coalisland Fianna clubman went on to have a stellar playing career with club, county and province, winning five Railway Cup medals with Ulster.
He was one of the finest midfielders of his era, a regular in the county side for many seasons and one of the county’s outstanding club footballers.
After bringing an end to his 18-year playing career in 1970, Jody was appointed manager, and guided the county to the Ulster title in 1973.
He manged the county 103 times over two stints between 1968 and ‘75, including eight as a player manager, and again from 1977-80.
He also managed Tyrone to the All-Ireland Junior Championship title in 1968.
He was appointed as a co-selector for the Ireland team to face Australia in the first Compromise Rules series in 1986.
In 1990, Jody O’Neill was inducted into the Tyrone Hall of Fame in recognition of a career of service to the county over six decades.
His playing career began at the tender age of 15, when he made his debut for the Coalisland senior team, having already won the first of his two Tyrone Minor Championship medals as a 13-year-old.
He went on to represent the club with distinction, later coaching and managing teams at under-age and senior level.
Tyrone GAA said in a tribute: “Real history-makers are scarce, and those who make it at different times and in different ways are scarcer still. But the most precious of all are those who make it with style, class and honour.
“For those reasons alone, and they sit with many others, Gaelic Tyrone is a poorer and more melancholic place following the death of our true legend, Jody O’Neill.”
In a tribute, Coalisland Fianna described the late Mr O’Neill as ‘one of the great leaders at club, college, county and provincial level’.
“A legendary figure of the game, when the histories of Coalisland Na Fianna and Tyrone were written, Jody’s immense contribution was forever etched in the annals of the GAA.”
A pharmacist by profession, Jody O’Neill made a huge contribution to community life in Coalisland, particularly in devoting time and energy to his beloved Fianna club right up until a short time before his death.
He was recently predeceased by his wife Yvonne, and is survived by children Barbara, Blanche, Yvette, Martin, Eugene, Raymond, Fiona, Cyril, Adele, Austin and Terry.