Dec 10,2024
Former Tyrone player and Antrim manager Jody Gormley, 53, has died.
Gormley, who managed Trillick to their recent Tyrone final loss to Errigal Ciaran, won two Ulster titles with Tyrone in 1995 and '96 while he was the only other Red Hand scorer in the 1995 All-Ireland final loss to Dublin, with Peter Canavan landing 11 of their 12 points.
The midfielder also played with London before making a brief return to Tyrone colours then moved into coaching and management.
In 2006 Gormley led Newry school Abbey CBS to their sole Hogan Cup title and also was part of Paddy O'Rourke's management team with Down.
At the end of that year, he was appointed Antrim manager and left after two seasons, just weeks after their Tommy Murphy Cup success - the last silverware claimed by the Saffron County at senior men’s football level.
In recent seasons, he had returned to manage his native Trillick and guided them to the O’Neill Cup in 2023.
The news of his passing was announced by his brother Damian on social media, after the 53-year-old revealed only six weeks ago that he had been diagnosed with stage four liver cancer.
Stormont's First Minister Michelle O'Neill said he'd shown "incredible strength, courage and resilience".
He told a BBC sports podcast recently that he had no fear of dying and felt most for those he'd leave behind.
"I'd like to be remembered as a decent person, who helped people out as much as I could, who tried to find areas to help people improve their life and just give them a wee nudge in the right direction....and obviously a Trillick man, and then Tyrone."
