The boyhood club of former Tyrone GAA goalkeeper Johnny Curran paid tribute to his memory with the unveiling of a memorial sign behind the nets he used to mind.
The 33-year-old tragically passed away in October 2020 after suddenly taking ill at his home, leaving the Coalisland community in shock.
His local Na Fianna club paid tribute to Jonny on Sunday, unveiling the sign listing his numerous achievements with both club and county.
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The Fianna’s senior and reserve teams, filled with friends of the talented goalkeeper, took to the pitch for a match to remember Johnny at Fr Peter Campbell Park.
His mother Alicia, brother Stevie and sister Louise helped to unveil the sign at the Meenagh Park end of the club’s ground, close to where Jonny grew up.
Club secretary Vinny McCann said the day was a fitting tribute to a man who was highly thought of in the tight-knit Coalisland community.
“It was nice to thankfully get this up and running and hopefully this will be a bigger and better event from next year,” Vinny told MyTyrone.
“He’s still well missed by everybody that knew him. He was a great lad and it is still a shock to us.
“A year and a half later it is still a massive shock, but this was a nice tribute for Johnny and he earned every bit of the tribute that he got.
“He would never have passed you, I spent many times in the changing rooms with him down through the years and he was the life and soul of that changing room.
“Johnny was just Johnny - an all round good lad and it’s unbelievable that something like that could happen to someone so fit and healthy.”
The unveiling of the sign came at halftime in the match, with Johnny’s family members, friends and former managers saying a few words to mark the occasion.
Vinny added: “Afterwards a group of players, supporters, friends and family came down and we watched the 2010 championship final which Johnny played a major part in.
“At half time there was a few words spoken from some friends and a few stories about Johnny and the type of lad that he was.
“Johnny’s mum said a few words as well and thanked the club for their efforts in organising the event.
“It was the least we could do to remember our friend.”
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