Death of a long serving Offaly GAA and athletics stalwart

THE Offaly GAA world has been hit with another early death of a great, long serving stalwart with Cappincur man Frankie Brennan passing away after a battle with illness.

In his 60s, Frankie was an excellent footballer, a tough competitor who was instrumental in Cappincur championship wins in the 1970s, '80s and '90s. He also played with Daingean in the days when a player could play with his own club at junior or intermediate and a senior club in the same parish – that ended in the late 1980s.

He also gave great service to athletics and Tullamore Harriers where he was a familiar, highly regarded figure as a competitor and coach for several years – and indeed, had been active in the club until a few months ago.

A physical fitness enthusiast, he was a member of a big and very highly regarded Cappincur family. They immersed themselves in the local GAA Club and Frankie was the most decorated.

He was very close to county standard in his prime in the early 1980s but that co-incided with a spell when Offaly were very successful, culminating in winning the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship in 1982. There was fanastic talent in Offaly when Frankie was emerging as a young footballer from the mid 1970s onwards. He attended trials for county teams from U-14 up to senior and was on the fringes of panels - there were incredible players in Offaly at that time and a number of them didn't play at the highest level due to a variety of reasons, even though there was no doubting their quality.

He was still an excellent performer, generally playing in defence or midfield and capable of occupying any position. He was a super fielder of the ball with a great natural leap and his value to Cappincur was immense.

He was arguably the best footballer Cappincur has produced. He would be in almost everyone's top five and he was the best I have seen for them with Eoin Carroll, Donal Mulligan and Bobby Delaney close – for a small area, Cappincur has been blessed with some very good club players and a great run of success in different eras, though they were relegated out of senior football this year.

He was only a youngster when Cappincur won the Junior Football Championship in 1976, coming on as a sub and scoring a point in the drawn final. He was midfield and scored a point as Cappincur won the Intermediate Football Championship in 1987, beating St Saran's in the final. He scored a point as they lost the 1989 Senior “B” Football Championship final and got a crucial goal in their 1991 senior “B” final win over Erin Rovers.

He played six finals for Cappincur, winning three and drawing one. He made his senior football debut in a defeat by Rhode in 1977 and was the only player from that side still playing senior football seventeen years later as Cappincur competed in the top flight in 1994. He also won league medals with Cappincur.

He was a fitness fanatic and his emphasis on doing things right, his knowledge of strength and conditioning, recovering well and managing injuries ensured incredible longevity. Even in 1991 when he was very much in the Winter of his career, his value to Cappincur was immense. He was a leader, an inspirational character and the way in which he encouraged new younger players, trying to bring them on was of great benefit to his club – he also served them well in training and helping manage various teams.

A very likeable and friendly character, he is also remembered with great fondess with Daingean. He played senior football for them from the early 1980s and won a Senior “B” Football Championship medal there in 1987 – that was a memorable year as he also won intermediate with Cappincur.

He played very well on that Daingean team as they beat St John's (a then amalgamation of Ballinamere and Durrow) in the final.

He made a great contribution to athletics and Tullamore Harriers.He was an esteemed member of their track and field section for decades. He was passionate about athletics, led by example and his dedication to training showed the way forward for others. He was a friendly, welcoming figure to newcomers at the club – in his younger days, he was a fast, dedicated runner over the shorter distances and he made a great input as a coach – he built up great friendships at the club and athletics was an impoprtant part of his life: his daughters, Emer and Aine were members of the club as well.

He worked in the building trade in his his younger years and spent most of his working life with Bord na Mona. He lived at Derrygowley, between Ballycommon and Daingean and will be sadly missed by his family, friends and many admirers.

He was buried in Daingean on Sunday and is survived by his wife Angela, son Conor, daughters Emer and Áine, sister Breda, brothers Jody, Peter, Mick, Gerry, Tom, Jude and Ted, his brothers in law, sisters in law, nieces, nephews, relatives, neighbours and many friends.