FRIENDS and family have said their goodbyes to Brendan Óg Ó Dufaigh following his funeral mass at St. Macartan’s Cathedral, Monaghan yesterday afternoon.

The Monaghan u-20 captain died in a road collision as he returned from last Friday’s Ulster semi-final win over Donegal.

The GAA community has been in mourning ever since with floral and card tributes adorning the club gates of Monaghan Harps. A book of condolences was also opened at Gavan Duffy Park.

“Today our hearts are truly broken as we say our final farewell to Ógie,” Monaghan GAA said yesterday.

“In his very short 19 years Ógie gave the people of Monaghan so much joy, countless treasured memories and filled our hearts with pride by wearing his county and club jersey.

“Ógie has left a legacy behind to which generations will now inspire from. He was unique.

“His passion was simply the GAA, to which he not only excelled in but was a born leader.

“GAA was not just a sport to Ógie, his club and county were an extension of his family – his beloved GAA family.”

GAA President Larry McCarthy has been amongst those paying tributes to Brendan Óg.

“Our condolences to Brendan, his parents Brendan and Esther, and his two sisters Claire and Áine in particular. But also to his club Monaghan Harps and to the wider Monaghan GAA family.

“Unfortunately that’s the second death in Monaghan in a week because Phil Traynor, one of their sponsors, died the previous week in Rockland in New York.

“So our heart goes out to both families and the broader GAA family in Monaghan as well.”

Monaghan’s u-20 final with Down, originally scheduled for this Saturday, has been postponed to next Friday as teammates and mentors attempt to come to terms with the tragedy.