Shane Duffy has posted an emotional tribute to his father Brian who has passed away at the age of 53.
Ireland defender Shane Duffy has paid tribute to his father Brian after the 53-year-old passed away yesterday. Brian was a native of Letterkenny but is reported to have ‘died suddenly at home in Derry’ yesterday evening. Shane, who grew up in Derry and plays for Brighton & Hove Albion, has taken to Instagram to say ‘You weren’t just my dad, you were my hero, my idol.’
He added, alongside a laughter emoji, that ‘I’ll miss ringing you after the match and you telling me how shite I was.’
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The 32-times-capped Ireland international continues: ‘Daddy, I love you and miss you, look after us all now. Every time I put that green shirt on for our country I’ll be thinking about you because I know how proud you were of me playing for Ireland! Love you and miss you.’
Some of Shane’s former and current international team mates have been offering their condolences, with Robbie Keane saying ‘so sorry to hear that Shane I’m thinking off you and the family’ and Darren Randolph adding ‘he’ll be watching over you with a big smile, still so proud of you and what you’ve achieved and will achieve.’
The FAI has also issued a statement which says ‘Brian was a dedicated supporter of the Ireland team, who travelled all over the world to watch Shane play and always mixed with Irish fans.’ The organisation added that ‘Brian was incredibly proud of his son’s achievements as a player.’
Brian is survived by his wife Siobhain, sons Shane and Tony and daughter Nicole.
