DAMIA IS THE REASON WE ARE HERE

Sean Og Grogan: Delaying retirement was the only way I could honour my friend properly

- KARL O'KANE

THAT sense of unbridled joy is there for all to see in the faces of Sean Og Grogan and Damian Casey.

The pair had soldiered together for years with the Tyrone hurlers, Grogan in his mid-30s, Casey just turned 29 that year.

This was the high water mark.

Tyrone hurling had never soared so high.

A Nicky Rackard Cup triumph had just been secured to go with place in Division 2, secured earlier in the season.

Casey had just hit 14 points in an All-Ireland final.

Grogan was a happy man, delighted he would bow out of inter-county hurling at Croke Park as an All-Ireland champion. It was the perfect ending.

Little did he know what lay ahead.

A few short weeks later Grogan was standing outside St.

Patrick's church in Dungannon at Casey's funeral after a tragic accident on holiday in Spain claimed his life.

He got talking to CJ McGourty. Both men had decided to retire after the Rackard Cup win.

Now, they just couldn't level.

Tonight, Tyrone will play competitively for the first time since the man many believe is the county's greatest ever hurler, passed away.

London are in town at Casey's home club, Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon for a Division 2B encounter. It will be the first time Tyrone take to the field without their late forward star in over a decade.

Casey lined out in 101 games in a row for the county, an “absolutely crazy” stat in the eyes of Grogan.

Tonight will be difficult, strange and poignant as they honour the memory of their late friend and teammate.

Grogan recalls: “At the funeral I remember saying to CJ – he had hung them up – ‘We can’t walk away now.’