Proud day for the Melly family and Na Rossa as brave Logan captains Donegal U-15s

Saturday was a proud day for Na Rossa GAA club and the Melly family in particular as Logan captained one of the Donegal Academy U-15 sides who took on Derry at the Donegal GAA Centre.

The Melly family are great supporters of Donegal GAA teams and travelled to Convoy on Saturday, where Donegal U-15s were to play a double-header against Derry. The games came a day after Logan's uncle, Trevor Melly, was laid to rest in Leitirmacaward cemetery.

"The GAA is a wonderful organisation," said Felix Melly, after his son, Logan, was made captain for the day of the Donegal.

On Wednesday, following his uncle’s passing the previous weekend, Logan had got a text to say he had made the final cut for the Donegal U-15s for the year but his dad felt there was no way he would be able to play in their first game on Saturday.

Thanks to advice from a family friend, Donegal’s 1992 All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Molloy, Logan said he would play and when he landed at Convoy he was met by the county’s other All-Ireland winning skipper, Michael Murphy, one of the Donegal U-15s management team, who held aloft Sam Maguire in 2012.

"Michael spoke to him outside the dressing room and said it would be okay if he didn't want to play, but Logan said he wanted to play," Felix added.

When the team was named in the dressing room, Logan was given the No 11 jersey but when they went out to the field for the warm-up, fate would play a part as the bibs were thrown out. By sheer coincidence, Logan was thrown the No 5 bib, the jersey number that his late uncle Trevor wore for Na Rossa. He was also made captain for the day as the team was announced. 

A simultaneous minute’s silence was held on both pitches, with the matches due to start at the same time.

"Before the game, the Donegal panel and coaches made a circle down on their knees with Logan in the middle,” Felix added. “There was some respect shown for Logan. It had been a tough, tough week but thankfully the game went well for him.

"Even after the game Logan emerged from the dressing room with Michael Murphy with a smile on his face. No wonder, it was a dream he had all his life, looking up to Murphy."

Na Rossa posted: "Well done to Logan Melly who captained Donegal U-15’s against Derry in Convoy. The club is so proud of you Logan."

The other members of the Donegal U-15 backroom team are Sean McDaid, Shane McNulty, Paul Sweeney, Sean O’Hare and Emmett Gallagher.