Queens Park Rangers beat Norwich 3-0 today at Loftus Road. While the result helped take QPR out of the relegation places, it will be remembered for the heroics of Louth man Jimmy Dunne, who opened the scoring for QPR.
That Dunne was on the pitch at all on Saturday was an enormous testament to his character.
Dunne's father Eamonn passed away last Monday and his funeral service took place on Friday in St Oliver Plunkett church in Blackrock near Dundalk in Co. Louth.
After heading back for the week, Dunne was in the QPR starting XI today. It's been a challenging start to the season for Dunne and his teammates, who hadn't won at home before this afternoon. Dunne's 22nd minute goal wasn't the prettiest of the seven goals he's scored for QPR but it sent them on their way.
Speaking to Ian Abrahams after the game, Dunne described one of the most emotional goals of his career.
It was an emotional goal. Maybe it was written in the stars, the ball ricocheting around me, someone had to put it in the net. Yeah, it's been a really tough week for my friends and family back home. I just needed to go back to be there for my sister, my brother, my mother, everyone else. I was just really, really grateful that I could get back in time for the game, and that the manager trusted me enough to play.
When asked if his father had some role in the goal he said
To be honest yea. I did feel like that, because it came to me first time and ricocheted back in my direction again for some reason. These things are sometimes meant to be.
LISTEN - after an emotional week I spoke to Jimmy Dunne, after he scored in @QPR 3-0 home win over @NorwichCityFC pic.twitter.com/ISSVJpbcYH
— Ian Abrahams (Moose) (@BroadcastMoose) December 7, 2024
It was a powerful ending to a hugely challenging week for the Dunne family. There was a lovely item on RTÉ Radio One with Jimmy and Eamonn back in 2013 when Jimmy signed with Manchester United, when Dunne was still 15 years old. It's a wonderful insight into their family life through football.
After the match, Dunne thanked the QPR fans for all the support they showed him today.
Thank you so much for the kind support today everyone
Family club you Rs💙 https://t.co/YDem9GhpBl— James Dunne (@jimmydunne70) December 7, 2024
