GAA star dedicates win to stab victim pal

Claire Murphy

GAA star Eamonn Fennell dedicated Dublin's win yesterday to his friend Warren O'Connor, who was stabbed to death in Donaghmede at the weekend.

Dublin player Fennell (25) helped his team to a 2-1 to 0-8 victory over Wexford yesterday in the O'Byrne Cup at Parnell Park.

But he said his thoughts were with the family of Warren O'Connor (24), who died on Saturday morning after a dispute about noise from a house party.

Midfielder Fennell was a close friend of O'Connor and played Gaelic football and soccer alongside him.

"To lose a friend like that is devastating," he said.

"I just want to dedicate that game today to him."

The pair were both members of St Laurence O'Toole's GAA club and were also soccer team-mates.

Family

"I just want to say that my thoughts are with Warren's family and I hope they all get through it," Eamonn said.

Joey Craydon, O'Connor's manager at Killester United, where Warren played most recently, said that he was a popular and a highly rated player.

"I never heard a cross word said about him, he was an easygoing lad and he enjoyed his football," he said.

clairemurphy@herald.ie