Remembering Young Caolan Finnegan’s Life After His Heroic Struggle With Disease
One of Crossmaglen and Armagh’s brightest football stars, Caolan Finnegan, has died at the age of 20, which is a few months before his 21st birthday. The entire football community and his numerous fans mourn the loss.
His memory will remain alive due to the incredible determination and courage he showed from the beginning till the end of his life and the amazing display of the game he played on the field.
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Crossmaglen Rangers, the team Caolan started his football journey with, took to their official social media this morning to share the sad news. In their statement, they spoke of his unbelievable bravery during his illness and how strong he was.
Right from a young age, Caolan’s talent as a footballer was apparent. He quickly established himself as one of the first-team players for Crossmaglen Rangers and joined the championship team at eighteen.
Often described as a forward player and a goal-scorer was Caolan, a good all-round player, full of vigour, and a good addition to the team.
Caolan’s jouney…
The journey Caolan has made in the game of football can be described as fast and accelerated. Playing at minor and under-20 levels for Armagh, he was considered one of the most promising young talents in Gaelic football.
His input on the field never went unnoticed, and he was considered as one of the future stars of the game.
His two elder brothers, Stephen and Ronan had been successful early in their careers, Stephen won the All-Ireland club title in 2011 while Ronan preceded him with his win in 2012. Patsy and Liam were his twin brothers who have also shown promising results and so it continued in the family footballing tradition.
Caolan’s final appearance for the club came in last year’s championship match vs Clan na Gael in August. But later, within a few weeks afterward, he was diagnosed with an advanced form of brain cancer.
He battled it out for a year as though life depended on him, and judging from the intensity perhaps it did. Senior physicians, who examined the initial scans, did not believe that the man had been playing championship football a week before.
He has beaten the odds before, even after a surgery that saw 90 percent of the tumour cut out from him last year. Next morning up and walking and performing his routine activities as if nothing has happened. Truly remarkable indeed!
Although having a difficult year, Caolan did not have to face it alone. He had the backing of his family, friends, his fellow brothers in the club & his fans from all over the world.
Throughout the process, the paramedic’s team and his dear ones were always there with immense support and care. This support network was critical in assisting him to keep his hope and energy lifted against fighting his condition and surgery.
Crossmaglen Rangers are said to have had immense pride in Caolan, and many have described him to be amongst the club’s all-time legends in the black and amber strip.
His footballing career was celebrated through the club’s tributes, which also underscored his integrity. All club activities are currently suspended to give tribute to the late young footballer till further notice.
“We are so proud of you Caolan. You will be forever remembered as one of the greatest who ever donned the black & amber. Rest in peace Stringer,” the club posted in a heartfelt statement.
