Shelbourne have led the tributes to Peter McDonald after the last surviving man to play football for Ireland at the Olympics passed away at the age of 98.
McDonald was part of the Irish Olympic team that went to the 1948 Olympic Games in London and played in the first-round defeat to the Netherlands.
The Ringsend native played League of Ireland football with Bohemians and Transport during the 1940s and earned one junior international cap, against Scotland, in 1947 before making the senior squad for London 1948.
Peter was a lifelong Shels fan having grown up on their doorstep and, after retiring from CIE, he volunteered at Tolka Park.
He became head groundsman during the 1990s and 2000s and, after stepping down, he continued to attend games for many years.
“Shelbourne FC is deeply saddened to hear the passing of Peter McDonald,” the club wrote on social media.
“He was a great Shels supporter and former groundsman in Tolka and a former LOI player who represented Ireland at the Olympic Games in 1948.
“A real gentleman who will be missed by his many friends in Tolka.”
