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The sportspeople the world sadly lost in 2015

A lot of great athletes left us this year.

Dave Mackay

Soccer - Scotland - Captain Dave Mackay PA ARCHIVE IMAGES PA ARCHIVE IMAGES

The teak-tough Scottish centre-half won the double with Spurs in 1961 and later managed the Derby side built by Brian Clough to the Division One title in 1975.  He passed away at age 80.

Zito

Soccer - World Cup Sweden 1958 - Final - Sweden v Brazil - Rasunde Stadium, Stockholm EMPICS Sports Photo Agency EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

The midfielder was part of Brazi’s first two World Cup-winning sides in 1958 and 1962, scoring a goal in the latter final. He passed away at age 82.

Alcides Ghiggia

Uruguay Soccer Ghiggia Obit Associated Press Associated Press

The man who silenced the Maracana, Ghiggia scored the famous goal in Uruguay’s 2-1 win over Brazil at the 1950 World Cup that earned his country the Jules Rimet trophy. Possibly the most famous goal ever scored. He passed away at age 88.

Howard Kendall

Soccer - FA Carling Premiership - Everton v Chelsea EMPICS Sports Photo Agency EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

The former Everton and Preston footballer went on to have great success in the dugout at Goodison Park, winning the league twice, the FA Cup once and European Cup Winners Cup once. He passed away at age 69.

Gerry Byrne

Soccer - Football League Division One - Liverpool Photocall EMPICS Sports Photo Agency EMPICS Sports Photo Agency

Byrne won two league titles as part of Bill Shankly’s Liverpool side but was most famous for his performance in the 1965 FA Cup final, which he played in full despite breaking his collarbone in the first five minutes. He passed away at age 77.

Rowdy Roddy Piper

Klondike Celebrity Challenge Associated Press Associated Press

The charismatic wrestler headlined the first two Wrestlemanias and successfully pulled off a Scottish gimmick despite being Canadian. He passed away at age 61.

Jerry Collins

Obit Collins Associated Press Associated Press

The gentle giant was one of the hardest hitters in the game at his peak and was a key part of the great All Blacks team that was upset by France at the 2007 World Cup. Killed trying to protect his family from a lorry accident at age 34.

Jonah Lomu

Rugby Union - Jonah Lomu and James Small File Photo PA WIRE PA WIRE

Rugby’s first superstar exploded onto the world stage with a staggering display of dominance at the 1995 World Cup and continued to rampage around the field until a kidney condition forced him into early retirement. Passed away at age 40.

Jules Bianchi

Formula One - Jules Bianchi Obituary David Davies David Davies

The Frenchman made his F1 debut for Marussia in 2013 and passed away at age 25 after a crash that took place during the Japanese Grand Prix in 2014.

Stephen Melia

melia

After making his inter-county debut in 1985, Melia enjoyed a 17-year career before retiring in 2002.

Pat Eddery

eddery

Eddery was an 11-time champion jockey and famously rode Dancing Brave to victory in the 1986 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He rode over 4,600 races and retired in 2003. He passed away at age 63.

Marton Fulop

Soccer - Carling Cup - Third Round - Everton v West Bromwich Albion - Goodison Park Empics Sports Photography Ltd. Empics Sports Photography Ltd.

The Hungarian shot-stopper started his career in his home country before spells in England with Spurs, Sunderland, Ipswich and Coventry City among others. He passed away at age 32.

Jackie Griffin

jackie

Griffin was a selector and trainer with Thurles Sarsfields. He passed away at age 47.

Paul Foley

paul

Former Waterford hurler Foley was a stalwart with club Ballygunner, winning six county titles and a Munster club medal. He also scored two goals in the All-Ireland minor final in 1992.

Adam Mangan

adam

The Offaly minor footballer and Leinster underage rugby player passed away at age 19 after a farming accident.

Johnny Lyons

lyons

The 98fm sports editor hosted the popular ‘Now that’s what I call sport’ show.

Darragh Doherty

doherty

Doherty was a key member of Mayo’s All-Ireland-winning minor team in 2013. He passed away at age 19 following a car accident.

Aaron Devlin

aaron devlin

The Derry footballer won four county titles and one Ulster club medal with Ballinderry. He passed away at age 22.

Jimmy Doyle

doyle

Doyle is widely regarded as one of the greatest hurlers of all-time and he has nine Munster and six All-Ireland medals to back that claim up. He was also selected on the hurling team of the millennium. He passed away at age 76.

Dave Billings

dave

Billings won an All-Ireland with Dublin in 1974 and also served as a selector for the team under Paul Caffrey.

Bill O’Herlihy

bill

Everyone’s favourite sports anchor was a regular fixture on our TV screens for decades and excelled in refereeing the fights between Dunphy, Giles and Brady. He passed away at age 76.

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10 Comments
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    Mute Ronan McGrath
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:07 PM

    Messi is giving him nightmares and cold sweats. I imagine him rocking feverishly in his chair at 3am, fingernails dug into the wooden armrests. Poor Jurgen. At 10pm tomorrow he will be set free of his torment, for a week at least

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    Mute Porter Paddy
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:13 PM

    @Ronan McGrath: Banter?

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    Mute David A Roberts
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:14 PM

    @Ronan McGrath: how’s that stephen king novel going?

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    May 1st 2019, 2:11 AM

    @Cionnadh:

    Lighten up ffs.

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    Mute Paul Cahoon
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    May 1st 2019, 9:26 AM

    @Ronan McGrath: nothing better than a load of shit to start the ball rolling. Silly.

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    Mute john murray
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:19 PM
    11
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    Mute john murray
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:24 PM

    @john murray: fantastic support

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    Mute David Weston
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:33 PM

    @john murray: I’m surprised 12 minutes have passed since you posted that and no fans here have been on trying to defend that

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    Mute Seaniecp
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:34 PM

    @john murray: ya d×ckheads. There’s no defending that. There is some pillocks out there.

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    Mute themansam
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:37 PM

    @john murray: even better support
    https://twitter.com/Jayzinq/status/1116630524389253125
    But every club unfortunately has that element in it. Hopefully some of the footage in the clip you showed can be used against them

    14
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    Mute John O Reilly
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:52 PM

    @john murray: every English soccer team has some lout supporters

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    Mute Dougal67
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:55 PM

    @john murray: It’s why the rest of the premier league is #any1butscousers! Never seen a team so hated and a side so not wanted to be champions in my life %75 on a hys last week, watching footie over 40 years can never remember it before, Utd a bit cos they won everything……

    come on Barca/City

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    Mute john murray
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:58 PM

    @John O Reilly: well to some people on 42 ALL Chelsea fans and racist

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    Mute john murray
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    Apr 30th 2019, 11:59 PM

    @john murray: are,*

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    Mute themansam
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    May 1st 2019, 12:05 AM

    @Dougal67: https://youtu.be/5m6BHuTxZ2c
    This lad is 100%, watch the full video but especially around 6.20 minutes Dougal

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    Mute Dougal67
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    May 1st 2019, 12:08 AM

    @themansam: See

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    Mute Dougal67
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    May 1st 2019, 12:12 AM

    @themansam: @themansam: Seen it take some to beat the scousers, didn’t u rob your own fans and their children for tickets champs final years ago!!!!!!
    Even Uefa said they’ve never seen the likes of it before!

    https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/football/2007/jun/04/newsstory.sport13

    Why do u think most of prem want yous to lose???

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    Mute themansam
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    May 1st 2019, 12:19 AM

    @Dougal67: https://youtu.be/zBeeZVd6urI
    Hard to see why the world thinks this of Chelsea

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    Mute Dougal67
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    May 1st 2019, 1:32 PM

    @themansam: Easy to see what world thinks of pool fans, After study since 2003 Eufa found Liverpool fans worst behaved in Europe, but hey you know better apparently?

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    Mute themansam
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    May 1st 2019, 1:55 PM

    @Dougal67: did you have a look at the videos there pal?

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    Mute El_Monikerinho
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    May 1st 2019, 2:30 AM

    One never knows with Football but WE ALL KNOW WHO IS BETTER AT THE GAME. Still in sport and especially Football one never knows what can happen.

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    Mute Fr Romeo sensini.
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    May 1st 2019, 7:13 AM

    @El_Monikerinho: easy on the sauce.

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    Mute El_Monikerinho
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    May 1st 2019, 2:28 AM

    Klopp = total B L U F F E R

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    Mute BrianBoru
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    May 1st 2019, 8:30 AM

    @El_Monikerinho: klopp has managed his team to the top of the premiership where they are still in with a shout of winning, the final of the champions league last year and so far the semi final this year………….. you are an anonymous keyboard warrior on a small Irish sports news app. I wonder who the bluffer is! Clown.

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    Mute Johnny Ryan
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    May 1st 2019, 8:35 AM

    @BrianBoru: you’re right, but you’re also anonymous so you can’t really use that against him

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    Mute BrianBoru
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    May 1st 2019, 8:37 AM

    @Johnny Ryan: sure I can.

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    Mute Weldoninhio
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    May 1st 2019, 12:11 PM

    @BrianBoru: In with a shout, Cl final last year, semi’s so far this year.

    But what has he actually won?? He’s spent over £350m in 2.5 years and not even a coca cola cup to show for it.

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    Mute BrianBoru
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    May 1st 2019, 12:20 PM

    @Weldoninhio: sure sure, but it hardly makes him a bluffer now does it.

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    Mute Conor Pocock
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    May 1st 2019, 12:24 PM

    @Weldoninhio: how much has he sold though? Every year there’s been an improvement. The priorities have been league and champions league. Give me this over Europa league and relegation zone under Hodgson

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