Ambrose Rodgers was laid to rest yesterday after requiem mass in Ballymartin. With his shockingly early death from a heart attack at the age of 39, he became the first Down All-Ireland medallist to pass away. All members of the 1960 and 1961 Down All-Ireland teams are still alive.

A distinctive figure on the inter-county scene for most of the 1980s, he had been playing with his club Longstone - where he also served as treasurer - up until recently and had been due to resume training tonight.

It was his misfortune to have peaked as a footballer during a particularly fallow period for the county but he was able to crown the end of his career with an All-Ireland medal in 1991, having come on as a substitute in both the semi-final against Kerry and the final against Meath.

Ambrose Rodgers's playing career drew quietly to a close after the following season. He had been troubled by a chronic knee injury which ruled him out of contention for most of the All-Ireland winning season.

His height and physique were familiar to football followers as was his talent as a left-footed kicker and his career was a successful one. Despite the limitations of the county for much of his prime as a senior, he collected All-Ireland medals at minor (1977), under-21 (1979) and eventually senior level. He also won a National League (1983) and two Ulster medals (1981 and '91).

"I would have worked with him for two or three years," said John Murphy who has been a Down selector for the last 10 years. "He was a great character, the life and soul of the party. If there was any divilment going on, Ambrose was always at the centre of it.

"He was a big man physically but with sublime skills. Ambrose was with Liam Austin the shining light in poor Down teams throughout the 1980s.

"He was tremendously well-liked, a real pillar of the community down in Longstone. He refereed under-age football for a while and was totally immersed in the club's activities. He'll be very sorely missed."