Friday, January 25th, 2013 will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of St Patrick's GFC. That night, one of the club's most treasured members, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe, was murdered while carrying out his duties of protecting the local community. Adrian had been a brilliant footballer with the Pats - winning senior league and championship honours - and was heavily involved in coaching the club's nursery players, the U7s, who looked up to 'Big A' with tremendous respect. Adrian's native Kilnaleck community, all of County Cavan, Lordship, everybody in Louth and indeed the entire population of Ireland were shocked and sickened by the brutal murder. Husband to Caroline and father of two young children - Amy and Niall - the 42-year-old Kilnaleck native was renowned as a pillar of the community in his adopted Louth, having spent his entire working life serving in Dundalk Garda Station. Adrian was a hugely-gifted footballer who excelled with Crosserlough, the Cavan minors and U21s, and latterly with St Patrick's, Lordship. Adrian's father Hugh was part of the great Crosserlough seven-in-a-row side, while - standing at 6'5" - Adrian himself was a gifted midfielder who could also do serious damage up front, if utilised there. Described by everyone who knew him as a gentle giant, he scored the winning goal for Crosserlough in the 1989 Cavan county U21 final and also won a minor title that year. In 1991, he added another U21 medal. The tributes that poured in for Adrian from the sporting world and the political spectrum in the aftermath of his death reflected the high esteem in which he was held not just in Cavan and Louth but on the national stage also. In the Wee County, Adrian joined the Pats in 1997 and was a member of the St Patricks team that brought the Joe Ward Cup (SFC) to Lordship in 2003 - as well as an ACC Cup the previous year - and he went on to serve the club with great distinction as an underage coach. A great role model in St Patricks, where he had just been appointed as Og Sport Director, the Cavan man also pulled on the red jersey of Louth at junior level. During his all-too-short time amongst us, Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe touched the lives of many. Adrian was honoured with a state funeral and his love of the GAA was demonstrated when he made that final journey. As the cortege passed the St Patricks pitch, Aidan's coffin was carried by his family, friends and colleagues to his final resting place. Among those to have this honour were his friends from St Patricks, who were reigning county champions at the time.