Sam and Liam united as Cork says farewell to GAA legend Teddy McCarthy

Ireland's two greatest sporting trophies were on show at his beloved Sarsfields club

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Tánaiste Micheál Martin, broadcaster Marty Morrissey and some of the true greats of the GAA - from the Rebel County and beyond - joined thousands of people to give Cork GAA legend Teddy McCarthy a fitting last salute earlier today.

The hurling and football great, a servant to his club and county as a player, a manager and an irrepressible supporter of the GAA, was laid to rest in his native Glanmire as many hundreds of people lined the route that his coffin took to the church.

At his club, Sarsfields, the entrance to the clubhouse had the Liam McCarthy and Sam Maguire trophies, together, as the perfect testament to his unique standing in the game - a dual All-Ireland winner in the same year.

But while the church was packed with politicians, broadcasters and sporting stars, it was his family who led the mourners. His number 9 Cork jersey was brought to the altar by his grandchildren as his son Cian delivered the eulogy.

The younger McCarthy told mourners that his dad - who died suddenly earlier this week at the age of just 57, had 'really mellowed out' in recent years after a lifetime of driven competition at the highest level, giving his all as a player and then as a mentor and manager.

He said his father had dedicated his life to his grandchildren and 'was always giving out to me for giving out to them!' Cian added that when their dad intervened to stop any scolding, himself and his brother Niall would look at each other and say; "If only he was like that with us when we were growing up!"

The requiem mass was said by Glanmire parish priest Fr Pat Fogarty, the co-celebrants were Fr Martin Barry, Fr Pat Nugent, and Monsignor Kevin O’Callaghan. Also present were Bishops Fintan Gavin and John Buckley.

There were players from the great Cork teams of that glorious Double year - including John Considine (another Sarsfields man) and Niall Cahalan - who both brought jersies while a football and a sliothar were placed on the alter, alongside Teddy's All Ireland medals.

It was one of the biggest funerals seen in Cork in many years and the mourners heard how while Teddy McCarthy had a unique record in the games - which may never be equalled as the era of the top-level dual-player has largely gone - he made light of his own achievements and his great pleasure from sport was mentoring or just watching young players starting out in hurling, football or camogie.

A guard of honour formed by players from his beloved Sarsfields club watched as the coffin left the church, to the sounds of The Banks of My Own Lovely Lee.

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