Former team mate devastated by Anthony Foley's death

When Niall Ronan ran out onto the pitch in Sunday’s Meath Intermediate Football Final for St Colmcilles, he was in a state of shock and grief.
The Pilltown man is a former Ireland and Munster ruby player who had played alongside the late Anthony Foley who died suddenly on Sunday morning at the age of just 42.
Anthony was also Niall’s coach for seven years, when the former Munster captain retired from playing.
“Anthony was a huge part of my career. He was my team mate and my coach,” he said.

“It was an incredible shock to hear he had died at the age of 42. It is not right. He has a wife and two children. It is very sad news,” he said.
“Anthony was team captain when I played with him. He was a leader and achieved an awful lot. To play alongside him was incredible.
“It is just crazy to think he has passed away . I heard the news half an hour before the match, which was a big game for me and the club, but his death put everything in perspective,” he said.
Niall was a member of the Meath Minor football team as a teenager and was a member of the Munster rugby team that beat Leinster to win the 2011 Magners League Grand Final.
He earned his 100th cap for Munster in 2013 and retired from rugby in April 2014.
He made his debut for Ireland against Canada in 2009 and his international career continued in 2010 and 2011.
He put in a fine performance in Sunday’s drawn match against Dunderry.
Anthony Foley’s body was found at the Novotel Hotel in Paris, on Sunday morning. He had been in Paris for the Champions Cup fixture between Munster and Racing 92. The game was rescheduled as a result.

His funeral takes place today in St Flannan's Church, Killaloe at 12noon and as a tribute, radio stations around the country will play 'The Fields of Ahtnery' at 12noon.