Tributes paid to talented young Ballinrobe footballer following passing

Tributes have been paid to former Ballinrobe Town player Umar Shafiq, who was killed in a road accident in Pakistan this week along with his mother, Noreen. He was 18 years old. Three other family members, including his father, Shafiq, were taken to hospital after the vehicle they were travelling in crashed into a bus travelling in the opposite direction.

A moment’s silence was observed at all Mayo Football League football games over the weekend in memory of Umar, who was first choice goalkeeper for Ballinrobe Town’s second team and had already made his Super League debut. He also represented Mayo on a number of occasions at underage and was named as goalkeeper on the Helen Johnson Mayo Under-18 Division Two Team of the Year in 2023.

JP O’Gorman, one of Ballinrobe Town’s greatest-ever players, has vowed to dedicate his next goal to the memory of Umar. Speaking to The Mayo News yesterday (Monday), O’Gorman paid tribute to Umar’s character, describing him as ‘everything we would want’ to see from an up-and-coming player.

“He was just a happy-go-lucky lad and a huge part of what we were trying to do,” said O’Gorman, who also paid tribute to his father and mother, who ‘were a huge part of bringing him to matches and training’. O’Gorman said the club are aiming to honour Umar’s memory by retaining their Mayo League status - which they attained after three successive promotions after re-entering a junior soccer team in 2021.

“He made a great impression on me in a few months of playing junior football. We’ll do everything we can to stay in the Super League in his memory, that’s for sure,” said the 41-year-old. “My next goal is going to be a special one, please God I’ll get it, next Saturday against Crossmolina. The next goal will definitely be for him, for sure.”

It is understood that the funerals of Umar and Noreen Shafiq have already taken place in Pakistan in accordance with Islamic tradition.