Tributes have poured in for Derry All-Ireland SFC winner and hugely influential dual player Colm McGurk, who has passed away.
McGurk was part of the Oak Leaf side who memorably lifted Sam Maguire in 1993. He also won multiple titles with his club Lavey in hurling and football, and managed the Derry hurlers to Nicky Rackard Cup and Ulster under-21 titles in 2017.
He was one of 13 children. Indeed, when Lavey beat Salthill-Knocknacarra in the All-Ireland club final in 1991, Colm's brothers Ciaran, Johnny, and Hugh Martin were beside him on the field, with Paddy, Seamus and Anthony on the bench - the latter coming on before the end.
Derry GAA chairman John Keenan led the tributes, saying: "Colm was small in stature but a giant of Derry GAA. His ambition for his club and county matched his energy and drive to improve and develop our community and its people.
"Colm McGurk's influence can be found on the blueprints of many areas of the GAA in Derry and Ulster.
"An All-Ireland winner with Derry in 1993 and an Ulster hurling winner in 2000, our former senior hurling manager, a competition sponsor and the chief architect on the Owenbeg complex opened in 2013, Colm had been working with Derry GAA in recent months on plans to further progress our facilities at Owenbeg for player development.
"Colm McGurk brought energy and passion to everything that he did. He was terrific company and will be very sadly missed."
Lavey also paid a heartfelt tribute to McGurk on social, describing him as "probably the bravest Lavey man of all time".
"Despite being an All-Ireland winner with club and county, Collie McGurk represents something greater than sport and Gaelic games. With his insatiable spirit, energy and lust for life, Collie McGurk was not made for defeat in any walk of life.
"A brave, generous, determined, talented, kind, altruistic, inspirational and loving man with a formidable life force has left us. His unbreakable spirit and legacy of service to his family, community and county will endure."
