Football
MORE than 2,500 people attended the funeral of Donnybrook Football Club’s Chris Sheehan following last week’s tragic accident.
Tributes to the football legend poured in throughout the last week, and minute’s silence took place before this week’s match.
“The committee of the Donnybrook football club wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to the Sheehan family and Danika , Chris’s fiancée. Our thoughts and prayers are with you,” DFC President David Wedderburn said.
Club member Shane Atherton paid tribute to Sheehan at the funeral.
"It has been said that the true measure of how you have lived your life is by the amount of people who show up to pay their respects at your funeral. Given the enormous crowd who attended Chris's funeral, he was highly respected and very much loved. The Sheehan family must be so very proud,” he said.
This weekend the Mighty Dons hosted Eaton Boomers on what was always going to be a difficult day for the players and indeed the whole club.
With the tragic death of teammate and club legend Chris Crackers Sheehan fresh in everyone’s mind and the lack of football due to last week’s games having been called off in Chris’s honour, the club has begun to focus on the remainder of the season. This week’s games were a tough test in every grade, with Eaton pushing to play finals in all three.
On the day the Dons lost all three grades but that was not important. What was important was that we honoured Chris’s memory by the courage we showed in every game. Every player who wore the blue and white on the day gave 100 per cent.
First to play were the colts. Beaten by over 100 points by Eaton earlier in the season, the colts boys were unfancied by the pundits but turned the form book on its head in one of their best performances of the year. Going down very narrowly at the end after an unsighted umpire failed to see, the boys were inspiringly courageous and did everything the club could have asked. Hold your heads up you blue and white warriors we are proud of you. Final score Eaton 8-8-56 to Donnybrook 6-8-44. Best for the Dons Cooper Smith, Joel Parker, Shaun Towers, Jake Kendall and Matt Pemberton.
The reserves were next to play and it was our honour and privilege to have Josh Sheehan play for us this week. Josh wore his brother’s number, 25, and did it proud. Josh if you ever get tired of being an international superstar the DFC has a jumper for you. Your inspiring example of fortitude in the face of adversity will help us rebuild. The reserves played one of their best games for many years, going down narrowly to a very strong Eaton outfit who will finish top two. Final score Donnybrook 6-7-43 to Eaton 10-11-71. Best for the dons Ryan Gilbert, Brad Epis, Dennis Tucker and Kane McMorran.
Last to play, the League side were always going to find the day hard. Coach Lewis will take some positives from a brave performance but the boys looked underdone after a difficult week running on empty after three quarter time. In the end beaten but not disgraced, the Dons will look to build on this week’s performance to get back on track. Final score Donnybrook 6-6-42 to Eaton 9-14-68. Best for the Dons were Lance Smith, Jason Brennan and Jeff Smith.
Next week the Dons visit the Harvey Bulls in what has become a must-win game for the Bulls as it will be their last chance to save a mathematical finals chance. The dons will need to be back to their best to come home with the points.
Go the Mighty Dons!
