By Alan Rodhers

TWO former Trillick stalwarts, who have remained deeply involved in the club throughout their lives, have paid tribute to the life and legacy of Jody Gormley.

Liam Donnelly, who guided Jody’s first steps into adult football in the early 1990s, clearly remembers the young player’s dedication to improving his skills and fitness.

The former All-Ireland-winning Minor manager with Tyrone recalls Jody as a young, athletic player on the Tyrone U-21 team during those years, and he continued to play with the seniors in 1995.

“Jody was a quiet, unassuming, and lovely-mannered man,” said Mr Donnelly. “He was a real good guy. In the early seventies, Jody’s father, Eugene, played on the Trillick team. I remember Jody, as a youngster, coming to training and kicking about.

“He was steeped in the club, and in one of our last conversations, he said, ‘I always loved wearing the number 9 red jersey.’”

Mr Donnelly praised Jody for the qualities he brought to his coaching, saying, “His personal attributes in helping to direct players of all ages were exceptional.

“He set a real good standard of coaching, ways of playing the game, and carrying ourselves as people. Jody has left a real legacy in that respect.”

Tyrone Competitions Control Committee chairman and Trillick clubman Raymond Monteith, who played with the young Jody Gormley, remembers his dedication to training and making his mark as a player and coach.

“When Joey first came along we were often battling relegation, but with him in the team we secured our senior status and reached two county semi-finals.

“The one thing about Jody was that he always kept himself in great shape.

“For him to be picked and then star at midfield for Tyrone shows the dedication that he had. Some of us went to training, but Jody went and trained.”

Mr Monteith added, “It was Jody who expressed an interest in coming back to manage Trillick. He displayed fantastic leadership to the current team of players. Everyone had the utmost respect for him.”

At the Tyrone GAA County Convention on Tuesday night, delegates stood in silence in memory of Mr Gormley.

Meanwhile, in a statement released after Mr Gormley’s death, Tyrone GAA said, “A footballer of style, class, commitment, and great effectiveness, Jody equally shared those qualities with us across all other aspects of life. On the field he energised Tyrone across three decades.

“He was central to those early 1990s Under 21 successes which took us to totally new places as a County. Then for a decade he pivoted our Seniors at midfield, playing in the 1995 All-Ireland Final. After that he moved on to deliver as a manager at Club, School and County levels.

“Always, always somebody who unerringly left things better than he found them.”