Many Glentoran supporters will be aware of the recent sudden death of former Shelbourne, Finn Harps and Waterford player Alan Keely at the tragically young age of 38. Alan was the son of former Glentoran captain Dermot Keely, who captained Ronnie McFall’s team to the Irish Cup Final victory over Linfield in the 1982-83 season. Indeed Alan was born during Dermot’s two-year spell in East Belfast.
Alan Keely in his Finn Harps days
Dermot signed for the Glens from Dundalk FC, where he had been a highly successful captain and where he remains a club legend to this day. In a gesture of great generosity and respect to his hometown hero, Glens midfielder has offered his shirt worn in last year’s Sadler’s Peaky Blinders Irish Cup Final victory over Ballymena United. In fact this is the shirt in which Ciaran brilliantly set up Robbie McDaid’s extra time winner that famous night. Proceeds from the auction will go entirely to Alan’s family.
Ciaran said to www.glentoran.com : “The Keely family is a well-known football family especially in my hometown of Dundalk. Alan's dad Dermot was an excellent footballer and had a great football and managing career. I never knew Dermot personally, but I did know Alan. I had watched him numerous times in the League of Ireland and then he played local football in Dundalk for a local team called Rangers. My Dad was manager of Rangers at the time, and he was always a standout performer at that level. I loved watching him. With Alan's dad playing for Glentoran for a while and me so happy at the club I thought it would be a great idea to auction my cup final winning jersey off. It was the least I could do for such a well-known and well-respected family. I know the great Glens support will rally behind Alan’s family with this auction.”
Ciaran with his cup final shirt in front of Dermot's image in the newly redecorated Glentoran Captain's Lounge
Dermot also spoke to us: “I would like to say a sincere thank you to Ciaran O'Connor for his magnificent gesture. Giving up your Cup Winners jersey is an unbelievable thing to do and speaks volumes of the man. All proceeds are going to the family of my deceased son Alan, who passed away suddenly 3 weeks ago at the age of 38.
I loved my time at the Glens and have wonderful memories of how they took me to their heart. I always felt part of the Glentoran family and still do to this day. I want to thank all the supporters for their many messages and calls during this difficult time and again to express my appreciation to Ciaran and Ian for making this possible”.
Bids for the shirt – which will be framed by the club – start at £100 and we all know the legendary generosity of the Glentoran Family will shine through yet again.
You can bid for Ciaran's shirt HERE on eBay . Also keep an eye on our social media channels for updates on how the auction is progressing . The auction will close on Monday 31st May at 4pm.
Glens skipper Dermot Keely with the Irish Cup in May1983. Beside him the much missed Ron Manley
