Armagh midfielder Niall Grimley has said lifting Sam Maguire following the team’s All-Ireland win was an “unbelievable but sad” moment after his brother died in a horror crash last year.
Last November, Patrick Grimley was killed in a car accident when returning from his surprise 40th birthday in Madden. Patrick’s wife Ciera, as well as Ciara McElvanna, the wife of Armagh’s 2002 All-Ireland winner Kevin, also died in the four-vehicle collision on the Gosford Road near Markethill.
Mr Grimley was the club secretary of Madden Raparees in south Armagh and occasionally provided commentary for the team.
On Saturday, Armagh beat Galway at Croke Park to claim their only ever second All-Ireland Final, with Niall Grimley on the pitch at the end when the team lifted the trophy. He dedicated the win to his late brother.
“You wish you could get the chance to see him again. After the final whistle, it’s amazing, the emotion, the celebration, but it’s like ‘ah no, he’s not here for this and I wish he was’,” the sporting star said.
“It was a special, unbelievable, moment but a very sad moment.”
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Speaking on the BBC’s The GAA Social podcast, Niall said the team stopped at the site of the crash on the way back from their historic win over the weekend to mark the loss of his brother.
“We were coming down the Newry road, there was singing and beers and the craic was 90,” he said.
“I knew it was approaching, and I was a bit tense, and the next thing I can see the bus slowing down.
“The bus pulled over and Geezer (Kieran McGeeney, the team’s manager) asked myself and a few of us to go out. We took Sam out and we said a wee prayer for Patrick, Ciera and Ciara.
“Moments like that are moments I’ll never forget and that’s coming from one man and that’s Geezer.”
The midfielder also said both Patrick and Ciera’s children joined him on the field at Croke Park after Armagh’s win. The couple left behind three children – Tadhg, Mya and Cadhla who were sent home early the night their parents died.
“I was saying to them, ‘your mum and dad wouldn’t believe this’,” added Niall.
“When I see my mum and dad smiling, and them kids smiling, that makes me happy.
“All I do is kick a football round a pitch, it’s not really that important, it’s not a big job, but if that gives them happiness and joy, that’s fulfilment for me.
“If I can continue to do that, to keep putting a smile on their faces, then I will.”
Following the team’s visit to the crash site, an Armagh flag was left at the location as well as written tributes to the couple.