Coalisland marathon man embarks on final leg

By Michael McMullan

COALISLAND championship winner Gerard Devlin will embark on the final leg of a mammoth club fundraiser this weekend.

Devlin played on the Fianna team to win back to back O’Neill Cups in 1989 and 1990.

Over the last 12 months he has been clocking up the miles in a challenge that will see him run 52 marathons in 52 weeks.

Devlin, father of Tyrone u-20 All-Ireland winning captain Niall, will this weekend fulfil a lifetime dream by running in the Camino and will combine it with the final marathon of an amazing year.

“When I go to bed at night, the Fianna is the last thing on my mind and the first thing in the morning,” he told Gaelic Life in a interview before he began his challenge.

“I just want to see if I can give something back. This was the obvious road to go down, to fulfil my own ambition and to gather funds for the club.”

Devlin began his challenge by running 112 laps of Fr Campbell Park, where he starred in the club of Coalisland, and he’ll finish it out this weekend on the Camino.

Many people organise fundraisers in the form of various events to raise money for the many facets of club life.

Gerard Devlin is no ordinary man and the Fianna Gaels will be tuned into social media this weekend to see the progress of their marathon man.

Anyone wishing to make a donation can do via www.gofundme.comfgerard-devlin-52-in-52