'Gareth Martin was embedded in everything that was good about the Glenfin parish'

Glenfin vice chairman Liam Ward paid a poignant and emotional tribute to the late Gareth Martin on an evening when the whole community came out to pay tribute at his very own field of dreams, Pairc Taobhoige. 

Speaking after his club’s 3-15 to 0-14 SFC defeat to near neighbours MacCumhaills, Ward admitted it was a huge blow last Wednesday when the news began to filter through about Gareth’s untimely passing. 

“In a small community like Glenfin, there is nobody that is not impacted by this tragic news. 

“Our thoughts and sympathies go to his wife Denise, daughter Courtney, sons Alex, Jude and Louie and, of course, his parents Francie and Geraldine as well as his sisters Carina, Tara and Jordan and all the Martin, McDermott and Whoriskey families. 

“It has had a huge impact in the parish and Gareth was embedded in everything that was good about the parish. 

“He was very heavily involved as player who always left everything out on the pitch and he managed the senior team last year along with David Carroll. 

“Gareth’s determination and passion for the club knew no bounds and that was the thing that stuck. He never gave up no matter what the odds were and no task was too big. 

“There is a huge sense of shock, sorrow and sadness.  He has so many connections and both the Martin and McDermott families have always been at the heart of the club. 

"For them to lose someone like Gareth at his age is so sad. But all we can do is give every support in the difficult days ahead. We can’t imagine what they are going through. 

“But there is a strong community in Glenfin, and you saw it there tonight as they all turned out in sorrow and sympathy for Gareth who was a special person in this club. 

“That was a huge crowd and it shows just how much he was thought of.  And he will never be forgotten”.