The League of Ireland community is rallying around Shamrock Rovers midfielder Gary O'Neill following the sudden death of his mother Noreen in Co Kerry.
Tralee man O’Neill missed Monday’s 2-0 win in Waterford having informed the club that day of the tragic news and he will also miss tonight’s game against Dundalk.
Shamrock Rovers team-mates, management staff and club officials travelled to Kerry this week to pay their respects.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley saw O’Neill on Wednesday and said yesterday: “It’s devastating news.
“He's home with his family and he's going to stay there for as long as he needs.
“The players went down to see him on Tuesday after training and the staff went down the next day.”
Bradley continued: “A few of the players, the injured ones, went down for the funeral (yesterday). It's a really difficult time for Gary and his family.
“I've been through something similar myself and I know how to relate to it. It's going to take time and he's going to need everyone around him that he's close to.
“I've seen people from around the league down there. Robbie Benson was there on Wednesday and other players and ex-players were going to the funeral.
“It’s important that Gary has the football community around him. He's a young man and he's lost his mother. The next few months he's going to need everyone.
“You don't know what to say as it's devastating for him. He's level headed, he doesn't get too high or low and hopefully that helps him in the next few months.”
O’Neill joined Shamrock Rovers from UCD last summer.
He established himself in the team and scored the winning penalty in the FAI Cup final shootout.
