THE late Dillon Quirke’s presence can still be felt in the Tipperary camp ahead of Sunday’s All-Ireland SHC semi-final against Kilkenny.
Aged 24, Quirke died in 2022 after collapsing on the Semple Stadium pitch while playing for Clonoulty-Rossmore against Kilruane MacDonaghs.
He was being marked on the day by his friend and Tipp team-mate Craig Morgan.
The pair, who were members of the side that won the 2018 All-Ireland Under-21 title, also played together for their county at senior level.
Morgan and Quirke met for a coffee the day before the tragic passing, which had a profound effect on the GAA community in Tipperary and beyond.
Speaking ahead of the clash with the Cats, Morgan said: “He’s still there in his dressing room.
“He’s still running out the tunnel with us. I know he’ll be there on Sunday as well.
“He’s in our minds every time we take to the field. It’s a privilege to go out, wear the jersey and play for him. He’s still a huge part for us on this journey.”
Morgan was in the defence alongside Quirke when he made his last appearance at inter-county level as Tipp exited the Championship with a defeat to Cork in May 2022.
Another couple of below-par seasons were to follow. But a resurgent Premier are bracing themselves for a first outing at GAA HQ since the 2019 All-Ireland final victory against Kilkenny.
Morgan added: “You’d like to imagine him there being involved as much as we are.
“He’s still part of that team that we had at Under-21 and he was there when the lows were there as well.
“We don’t forget that either. Dillon was there when we weren’t winning matches so he’s definitely there with us as we’re heading to Croke Park.”
Now just one step away from a shot at the Liam MacCarthy Cup, Tipp have recovered impressively from a dismal 2024 campaign that saw them fail to win a Championship game.
Even in the workplace, Morgan could not avoid the subsequent criticism.
He laughed: “I’m a primary school teacher and I suppose children are probably the most honest people out there. They’ll tell you on a Monday morning how you went on a Sunday.”
Morgan teaches third and fourth class at Kilruane National School. And he admits that the sense of duty to his pupils helps to keep him in check.
He explained: “It does. I suppose they’re looking at you and asking about players on the team. They look at a lot of the guys as role models and that’s where they want to be.
“That grounds me back to where I am. I suppose it brings me back to being that age and thinking that I am where I am now and I need to enjoy that as well.
“There are going to be lows but you need to take them and learn. They’re things you dream of doing, so you need to enjoy it. The kids are good to remind you.
“It’s something they look forward to and that’s their dream. You’re living their dream really.”
