MICK HIGGINS:THE DEATH of Mick Higgins at the age of 87 takes from the GAA one of its most revered and influential figures. Although the loss is felt keenly throughout the association it will be most acute in Cavan for whom Mick Higgins was a central figure during the county's golden age.
His passing breaks the final playing link with the Cavan team that won what many consider the most memorable All-Ireland in history: the 1947 final played at the Polo Grounds in New York to commemorate the centenary of the Famine.
It's difficult at a distance of 60 years to recreate the impact of that Cavan team. The county was the ruling power in football, winning three All-Ireland titles in the six years 1947-52. Its players were household names, celebrities during the often bleak era of postwar austerity.
Mick Higgins was among the best known and captained the winning team in 1952, kicking seven of Cavan's points in the 0-9 to 0-5 replay defeat of Meath.
His career achievements beyond the three All-Irelands include a National League title in 1950, seven Ulster Championship titles, two Railway Cups and two McKenna Cups.
He was revered throughout the country and nowhere more so than in football's greatest county, Kerry. A friend who accompanied him to the funeral of the great Kerry full back Joe Keohane in 1988 recalls: "Mick was almost more of an icon in Kerry than at home. We nearly didn't get out of Tralee that day."
After his playing days ended he went on to have a long and distinguished coaching career, lending his expertise to a host of teams, especially those without any tradition of success - such as the Longford team he helped to win the 1966 National League and, two years later, the county's only Leinster title; and Donegal, who he assisted at the invitation of player-manager Brian McEniff to a first Ulster title in 1972.
Yet he didn't neglect his own county during his coaching years, leading Cavan to four Ulster titles in the 1960s and taking the minors to an All-Ireland final in 1959, the golden jubilee celebrations of which he was able to attend last year. He also trained Ulster to Railway Cup success in the 1960s.
Coincidentally, given his and the team's association with the city, Mick Higgins was born in the Bronx, New York, in August 1922, to John Higgins from Kiltimagh in Mayo and Mary Farrelly from Cavan. The family returned to Ireland and in 1932 settled in Kilnaleck where John Higgins became a farmer and publican.
Mick Higgins was educated at St Mary's College, Dundalk, for whom he won a MacRory Cup medal in 1938. The following year he played for Kildare in the same championship, as he had been posted there at the start of what would be a life-long career in An Garda Síochána.
Among other places he was posted to Bailieboro and he was for many years sergeant in Tullyvin. At his funeral John Higgins said his father would get annoyed if he hadn't solved a crime within between 12 and 24 hours.
The other great sporting passion in his life was greyhounds, which he started to train in 1945. Until just weeks before his passing he could be seen walking dogs early in the morning on the Virginia to Ballyjamesduff Road.
A devout Catholic, he was a daily Mass-goer and was spoken of with respect and affection wherever he went.
Mick Higgins's own words have been widely quoted in the past week as a reflection of his character. When asked how he would like to be remembered he replied: "That I never hit anyone, I played the game clean and I never was put off."
He is survived by his wife Margaret O'Connell, son John, daughters Terry, Jean and Brenda.
Mick Higgins: born August 22nd, 1922; died January 28th, 2010