TOWN'S TEAM JOINS SILENT TRIBUTE TO DEAD
Town's team joins silent tribute to dead
By Peter McVerry
THE footballers of Omagh Town should have been kicking off their home campaign against Newry Town at 3pm tomorrow.
Instead the stands around St Julian's Road will, like so many other places around the province, stand in silent tribute to those killed, injured and bereaved in the Omagh massacre.
The decision to cancel the game was taken early this week by the club with manager Roy McCreadie one of those most closely involved.
He said: "There was no way a game could have been played in Omagh this weekend.
"This town hasn't stopped grieving yet. It is a sorry wee town which has had the heart ripped out of it.
"They say that sport is great for bringing people together and healing wounds.
"But not on this occasion. Omagh Town is still in shock."
When the bomb exploded last Saturday, Omagh Town had just kicked off their league programme against Glentoran at the Oval in Belfast.
As news Filtered through of the horrific events unfolding back home, the safety of friends and family was understandably uppermost in the minds of the squad.
Roy said: "Early reports were sketchy and unconfirmed but we knew there had been a bad bomb.
"We had to tell our kit-man and physio so they could make calls back home "to check on their family."
The only Omagh-based player on the field was Mark Donnelly and his manager told him as soon as the game was over.
He said: "At first Mark wasn't too bad because his wife wasn't going down the town that day. But when he rang home she wasn't in.
"He began to fear maybe she had gone down town to the carnival. We couldn't get out of the Oval quick enough.
"We stopped every so often for Mark to ring home and he kept getting no answer.
"Eventually he heard she was fine when we got to Ballygawley.
"Words just can't express enough the sorrow in this town. But it is no time for a game of football."
By Peter McVerry
THE footballers of Omagh Town should have been kicking off their home campaign against Newry Town at 3pm tomorrow.
Instead the stands around St Julian's Road will, like so many other places around the province, stand in silent tribute to those killed, injured and bereaved in the Omagh massacre.
The decision to cancel the game was taken early this week by the club with manager Roy McCreadie one of those most closely involved.
He said: "There was no way a game could have been played in Omagh this weekend.
"This town hasn't stopped grieving yet. It is a sorry wee town which has had the heart ripped out of it.
"They say that sport is great for bringing people together and healing wounds.
"But not on this occasion. Omagh Town is still in shock."
When the bomb exploded last Saturday, Omagh Town had just kicked off their league programme against Glentoran at the Oval in Belfast.
As news Filtered through of the horrific events unfolding back home, the safety of friends and family was understandably uppermost in the minds of the squad.
Roy said: "Early reports were sketchy and unconfirmed but we knew there had been a bad bomb.
"We had to tell our kit-man and physio so they could make calls back home "to check on their family."
The only Omagh-based player on the field was Mark Donnelly and his manager told him as soon as the game was over.
He said: "At first Mark wasn't too bad because his wife wasn't going down the town that day. But when he rang home she wasn't in.
"He began to fear maybe she had gone down town to the carnival. We couldn't get out of the Oval quick enough.
"We stopped every so often for Mark to ring home and he kept getting no answer.
"Eventually he heard she was fine when we got to Ballygawley.
"Words just can't express enough the sorrow in this town. But it is no time for a game of football."
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0150
Published Date: 21-Aug-98
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