'Dylan will be looking down driving us on': Newtownhamilton GAA pair take on marathon in memory of late club-mate
Conor Watters and Brian Caherty from St Michael's GAC in Newtownhamilton will take on the 26.2-mile challenge this Sunday
Two Armagh club GAA players will take on their first marathon in Belfast this weekend in memory of their former club-mate.
Conor Watters and Brian Caherty from St Michael's GAC in Newtownhamilton will run the 26.2 mile course on Sunday to raise funds for a new gym at their club. It will be named after 16-year-old Dylan Vallely, who tragically lost ihs life latte last year, three weeks after being involved in a car accident.
Neither Conor or Brian have run the distance before, but say they will be thinking of Dylan throughout the race.
“I've never even done a half marathon, nevermind a full one, so it's going to be tough," admits Conor.
“But, we've trained relatively hard. We've done the long runs, and I suppose doing it alongside playing football as well, it's not easy, but, you know, when times get tough, we'll just knuckle down. I'm sure Dylan will be looking down on us driving us on over the finish line, hopefully."
Conor Waters: “Just a week before he passed, Dylan was named Minor Player of the year for the club. He was a terrific talent.
“Last year he started training on the senior team and you could just see from the first time he stepped on that pitch he was going to be the future of the club.
“He had so much ability.
“Having the gym named after Dylan hopefully will inspire some of the younger players for now, and future generations to develop themselves and represent the club down the line. “Having Dylan's memory there will hopefully drive them on."
“It's extra special that the gym will be named after a very special young man that we lost before Christmas, Dylan Vallely," adds Brian.
“Dylan was a massive part of our club. He was involved in a road traffic accident and it's been a very tough time for the family and the whole community. "
The duo will wear a specially made shirt for the marathon, which was designed by none other than Dylan himself, as Brian explains.
“It was found on a laptop of Dylan’s from his school and has everything on it that represents Dylan. On the side of it, it's got '5-51'. That was what Dylan scored last year in the Minor League. It also has the Road Ahead Support Group crest, the charity that has been helping the family.
“Everybody's asking us how the training's going. Or saying are we going to get through it! But, when the tough gets going, we'll be thinking of Dylan and no doubt he'll drive us through the end of it."
A GoFundMe page has already beaten their initial target of ÂŁ2,000, with more expected over the coming days.
Work has already started on the gym at the club's Dundalk Road ground, with club membmers and volunteers all chipping, emphasising the sense of community in the area following the loss of Dylan.
“It takes a lot of money to keep local clubs going," explains Brian.
“We haven’t actually set ourselves a target. We're just hoping to raise as much money as we possibly can, and every penny helps."
You can donate to the cause by clicking on the link below