The death took place overnight of Swilly Rovers legend Paddy Sweeney, aged 93.
Paddy managed Swilly Rovers in their two greatest hours, the FAI Junior Cup wins in 1962 and 1967.
Although Paddy’s own playing career was cut short by injury, he still carved out a name for himself.
He played in the Swilly teams of 1953 and 1958 that reached FAI Junior Cup finals, but lost out to Evergreen and Virginians.
He had played for, among others, Strabane United, Coleraine, Ards and Glenavon and won an IFA Junior Cup in Strabane’s colours, alongside Donegal men Brendan McDaid and Paddy Harte.
He turned to management and led Swilly to Junior Cup final wins over Castleview (62) and Orchard (67). In ’62, Swilly became the first Donegal team to win the Junior Cup.
A resident of Castle Street, Ramelton, all his life, Paddy worked for over 50 years at McDaid’s Bottling Stores.
Such was his contribution to Swilly Rovers, the club held a ‘This Is Your Life’ event to honour him in 2006, when around 300 people gathered for a function in the Silver Tassie Hotel.
A lifelong contribution to Swilly included the aiding of the purchase of Swilly Park, then known as O’Brien’s Field, as he raised money all around the county by selling tickets on his travels for McDaid’s.
Paddy was also a trustee of the Ramelton Town Hall.
Aged 93, Paddy Sweeney is survived by his wife, Noreen, sons Sean, Garrett, Paul, Dermot and Garvin.
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