In Memory of Conor Geoghegan

Conor (right) with his brothers Fionn and Oisin

Our friend and teammate Conor Geoghegan died on Thursday.

He had battled bravely against illness, month after painful month. Now the pain is ours. He will be missed terribly.

Conor was simply a better footballer than we deserved to have on our team. His deft touch defied his giant physique. His right foot capable of breathtaking precision or brutal force.

His first goal for the club, versus Mid Sutton in 2017, was as brilliant as any that Rockfield Park has seen since. Rolled the ball from a tip-off, he noticed the keeper had strayed off the line, and from 60 yards he dropped the ball six inches under the crossbar.

Somehow his second goal was even better. Away against St John Vianney at Dublin Port Stadium, the ball fell towards him from a height, and he unleashed a volley that might have landed in Wales if the top corner of the net hadn’t got in the way.

But characteristically, Conor saved his most memorable contributions for when he helped teammates score - improvising a free kick routine to chip it, inch-perfect, on to Stephen Canavan’s head against Wayside; flicking the ball over his shoulder, and a confused defender, to set up Jamie McCaul against Kevin’s; or laying in Ryan Scollard to score yet again in what tragically turned out to be Conor’s final match, against Old County.

Despite an indomitable will to win, Conor always brought his sense of humour on to the pitch. He was particularly known for offering unsolicited advice to the other team, whispering with his familiar smirk.

Once, when Seaford’s left back had made a ropey start to a match, Conor told an opponent that their striker was useless and they’d be better off trying to give the ball to Tansey instead.

His only red card for the club was for the offence of smiling sarcastically at a Booth Road player, causing a 10-man brawl (during which Conor continued to grin from ear to ear, risking further punishment).

Conor’s humility and quiet leadership was disarming for those of us whose level of talent or understanding of the sport was no match for his own.

He loved being joined on the pitch by so many close friends like Mate, Tansey, Wayno and Scol - but most of all by his younger brothers Oisín and Fionn,

But the love and affection towards Conor went far beyond that. It was felt universally throughout our entire little community.

We’ll continue to play.. We’ll aspire to play like Conor played. And we’ll treasure the gift of his memory.

May he rest in peace.