Brian Duffy, the father of Ireland international Shane Duffy, has died aged just 53. He was a native of Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.
"You weren’t just my dad, you were my hero, my idol," Shane Duffy wrote on Instagram.
"I’ll miss ringing you after the match and you telling me how shite I was. Daddy, I love you and miss you. Look after us all now.
"Every time I put that green shirt on for our country I’ll be thinking about you because I know how proud you were of me playing for Ireland! Love you and miss you."
Ireland senior manager Stephen Kenny said:
Our thoughts are with Shane and his family at this very sad time. Brian was very proud of his son, a proud football fan and a huge supporter of the Foyle Harps club in Derry where Shane played his underage football alongside Patrick McEleney and where Paddy McCourt learned the game.
My own son Eoin played for Harps up to two years ago and I know just how central to the Galliagh community the club is. Brian’s loss will be felt by everyone at Foyle Harps and in Galliagh but none of us can comprehend what Shane and his family are going through now. We can only offer our support and sympathies.
FAI interim deputy CEO Niall Quinn added: "To lose a father at any time is heartbreaking but to lose Brian at just 53 years of age is such a tragedy for Shane and his family. We can only imagine the pain they are going through now and I am sure I speak for everyone involved with Irish football when I offer our sympathies to Shane and the Duffy family in Derry and in Donegal."
Picture credits: David Maher/Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
