Aug 27

The Heart of the Matter

Talking Balls Comments
The late great Cormac McAnallen.
Last Sunday in Co Down a young footballer lost his life dying suddenly on the football pitch. Patrick Dinsmore was playing a minor match for his club St Peter’s Warrenpoint at Rostrevor when he collapsed on the field away from the playing action and died. By all accounts Patrick was a typical young lad who enoyed his gaelic games and having the craic with his friends. Sadly he will enjoy that no more.

Patrick is the latest casualty of Sudden Adult Death Syndrome. This week both Bridget McAnallen, the mother of the late and great Cormac McAnallen, and John Lundy of Cardiac Risk in the Young who lost his son Aaron, have called for widespread screening to help prevent unnecessary death.

On one radio programme we listened with blood boiling to a respected cardiologist argue why there shouldn’t be widespread screening. The counter argument runs that if it saves a single life it is worth it. Surely something must be done?

The reality of the situation is that every so often tragedy strikes and the issue of cardiac death in the young is placed in the media spotlight. But, as with all news stories, today’s headline is tomorrow’s chip wrapper. People like Bridget are hauled out to face the press, to state the same argument to no avail and to their own growing frustration.

All GAA clubs have the opportunity to to do something about it for their own members, whether it be to have players screened or as a basic minimum to fill out the GAA approved questionnaire. If you are a player and there is any history of sudden death in your family, speak to your GP. Don’t let your club be the next to mourn the unnecessary loss of a young player.