A legend of local GAA circles in Co Tyrone was remembered in a memorial match which raised vital funds for Marie Curie on Saturday.
Jim Curran, a dedicated volunteer for Ardboe O’Donovan Rossa and a trusted part of former Tyrone senior manager Mickey Harte's backroom team, died from cancer in 2020. Former players of the local club matched up against rivals from nearby Moortown in an an entertaining game in Jim’s memory.
Three-time All Ireland winning manager Mickey Harte took charge of the home side, while Peter Canavan also appeared as a referee during the game.
READ MORE: Co Tyrone man ‘brought the best out in everyone’, funeral hears
More than £9,000 has been raised so far for the local cancer charity, and Jim's sister Bernie Kerr said it was a fitting tribute to her brother.
"It was a brilliant day and Jim must have been looking down on us because it was lovely and sunny and it was a bit of craic," Bernie told MyTyrone.
"It's now two years since Jim passed on Sunday and it was a fitting tribute to Jim for his contribution to the GAA and his club and for Tyrone.
"It was a big blow to us when he died. He had started to show symptoms before he was officially diagnosed in February of 2020.
"It was a big shock to us all, Glenda his wife and the rest of the family. We didn't want to lose him but that's the way cancer goes, unfortunately.
"You wouldn't have heard a bad word from Jim. He would have always helped out and was always really supportive of our family and everybody else.
"That was especially the case if there was a big Tyrone match coming up, Jim would have travelled the earth north and south to make sure people got sorted. That's just the kind of man he was."
Ardboe club chairman Malachy O’Neill paid tribute to Jim, who served as a player, coach, committee member and referee over many years.
“As a former player, club chairman and intercounty referee, Jim Curran needs no introduction to the GAA community locally, provincially and nationally,” Malachy told MyTyrone.
“Following his retirement from refereeing, the role he played in Mickey Harte's teams from 2003 onwards is widely known and his organisational skills and attention to detail played no small part in the success of those pioneering Tyrone teams.
“The Memorial Masters Challenge with near neighbours Moortown St Malachy's provided an opportunity to bring together many of the former greats of both sides of the parish but also some of the officials who soldiered with Jim on the county and intercounty circuits of that era.
“Jim's legacy was apparent for all those privileged to be part of the events of last weekend and a reminder to all of us of the power and positivity of the GAA community.”
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