Tributes have been pouring in following the death of teenage football star Eoin Cross from Mountmellick, Co Laois.
The talented soccer and GAA player, aged 14, sadly died on Saturday, December 10, following a brave cancer battle, leaving family and community grief stricken.
The local community rallied around Eoin and his family with supported fundraisers, after he was diagnosed with cancer last February.
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Many tributes have been paid including from Mountmellick GAA Club, who had been central to fundraising events after he was diagnosed with cancer last February.
Eoin, 14, was a member of Mountmellick United FC and Mountmellick GAA Club, with talent that was displayed on and off the field.
Eoin was diagnosed with a rare cancer and had been going through intensive treatment in Crumlin Children's Hospital.
The community in Mountmellick and beyond came together to support Eoin and raised over €16,000 through GoFundMe fundraisers, according to the Laois Nationalist.
Local shop Ela's Your Stop The Square Mountmellick closed as a mark of respect for the duration of the Eoin’s funeral.
A statement online read: “Dear customers, Due to respect of Eoin Coss and his family we decided to close the shop for the duration of his funeral Monday morning.
“We will reopen Monday afternoon. We are heartbroken as Eoin was very close to our hearts.”
The statement added: “We are thinking about his family and friends. Sleep tight Eoin.”
In a touching tribute, Mountmellick GAA Club, and the FAI led tributes with statements on social media expressing the collective grief felt in the community, and revealed that one of the young players traits was never giving up, the club said:
“We are devastated at the passing of Eoin Coss.”
“He left this world at the age of only 14, surrounded by his family after an illness so bravely borne up to the end- one of his strongest traits was never giving up, no matter what he was faced with.
Mountmellick GAA Club described how Eoin began playing with the club when he was five, and played a grade above his age group.
In GAA, Eoin was important in Mountmellick winning the U13 football title in 2020, scoring a hat-trick in the final.
He also represented them in hurling right the way up to U13s.
The football prodigy even played in Croke Park with the club's u10 team, while he was only u8 himself.
The tribute reads: “We were lucky enough to have Eoin play football with us since he was just 5.
“He almost always played a grade above his age group and never looked out of place. He played in Croke Park with our u10 team while he was only u8 himself.”
“Eoin was a true team player - humble in victory and gracious in defeat. He was a son, a brother, a friend, a teammate and an all around incredible person who inspired so many.”
“No words that we have will be able to express how much he will be missed.
“We can only hope that his family and friends may find strength in the love they shared and be sustained by their many happy memories in the dreadfully sad days ahead.”
“Rest easy Eoin- and thank you. Suaimhneas sioraí dá anam.”
The FAI said: "All at the FAI are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Eoin Coss, the Mountmellick Utd ‘John Terry’ who starred for the Midlands Schoolboysgirls League.
"Our deepest sympathies to Eoin’s parents and brothers, his family and his many friends in football. May he rest in peace."
A death notice by Moloney Funeral Directors read:
“Predeceased by his Grandfather Patrick Dunne, his death is deeply regretted by his loving parents Martina and Kevin, his brothers Rian and Darragh, grand parents Bridget Dunne, Eddie and Sadie Coss, aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives and a large circle of family and friends.”
“Eoin will be reposing in his home on Sunday from 3pm.”
"Recital of the Rosary at 6pm. Removal on Monday morning at 10.40am to St Joseph's Church, Mountmellick arriving for 11 am Requiem Mass.”
Donations can be made to the Laura Lynn foundation.
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