Former Tyrone GAA star reveals terminal cancer diagnosis

Ex-Tyrone Gaelic footballer Jody Gormley has revealed that he has received a terminal cancer diagnosis.

The former Antrim manager played for both the Tyrone and London county teams during his Gaelic football career, and went on to coach in the Down setup shortly after retirement.

Gormley became the Antrim boss in 2007, a role he held for two seasons.

The 53-year-old helped his county win the Ulster Championship in his debut season in 1995, before they went on to lose to Dublin in the All-Ireland Final.

Gormley revealed his diagnosis on BBC NI’s GAA Social podcast, telling hosts Thomas Niblock and Oisín McConville: “I have no fear of dying. No fear of dying whatsoever.”

“I’ve felt blessed my entire life,” he added. “The sadness is the people you’re leaving behind.”

The Trillick manager revealed that the hardest thing to accept is knowing he won’t get to see his son play for the club.

“He’s come back after a couple of years, that I’ll not get to see him play and I’ll not get to see my family grow up and mature. That’s not scary but sad really. That’s the reality.

“When you peel it all back, it’s the people close to you that you’re not going to have those experiences with. That is the genuine sadness, there’s no being tough around that, that’s the reality,” he added.

When the Trillick GAA team made their way back to their dressing room after a Tyrone club football match final last Friday, their manager, Jody Gormley, sat them down and revealed he has just months to live. He's been speaking on the BBC's GAA Social podcast to Thomas Niblock. pic.twitter.com/Jz55XQbHYC

Gormley suffered a stroke in July while in the gym with his son James in Florida during a family holiday before returning to hospital in September, when he was informed that he had stage four liver cancer.

He continued: “I think it’s important, for me anyway, to show that even if you’re facing the ultimate challenge that you can be resilient. It’s important for my family to show strength of character and the people around me.

“It’s an opportunity for me to show that yeah just because you have a terminal illness doesn’t mean your life is over,” he added. “I intend to go out with a bang, I’m not going to lie down in the corner.

“People need different role models and I suppose in my role in my life as a teacher and a coach, I’ve had that role. This an opportunity to show that you can keep on going and if somebody finds something of use in it it’s worthwhile.”

The Tyrone legend also revealed that he informed his players and coaching staff at Trillick of his diagnosis in the changing rooms after their defeat by Errigal Ciaran last week.