GARY MCCULLAGH CAPTAINED St Mary’s Convoy to the AllSportsStore.com All-County Football League Division 4 Reserve title yesterday evening – four years to the day from he gave his son the gift of life.
On October 22nd 2012, the Raphoe native donated a kidney to his young son Christian.
Last evening in Killygordon, former boxing champion Gary was presented with the Division 4 Reserve cup after a 2-11 to 2-8 win at Red Hughs.
The win, secured with the help of goals by Rory Gildea and Gavin Sweeney, moved St Mary’s, Convoy away from fellow title contenders Carndonagh.
[adrotate group=”53″]That the win came four years on from the transplant, performed at Beaumont Hospital in Dublin, certainly heightened the emotion for corner-back McCullagh.
“It’s hard to believe that’s four years ago now, I’m just glad to be out playing sport again,” he said.
“Thank God Christian is doing good these days, too. He’s on a good run now. We just have to mind him.”
[adrotate group=”38″]Christian – now in first class at St Eunan’s NS in Raphoe – was born five weeks prematurely and had a series of medical complications.
Twice, Gary and Aileen McCullagh said ‘goodbye’ to their new bundle of joy, but little Christian defied the odds and survived.
Christian had open-heart surgery in 2014 to replace a leaking valve; a nine-hour procedure at Crumlin Children’s Hospital.
Gary McCullagh is the Head Coach at Raphoe Boxing Club and was the Ulster senior welterweight champion in 1999, as well as winning the Ulster Intermediate title in 1998 and he was a semi-professional boxer in 2012 when he hung up his gloves to donate a kidney to his son.
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