Support pours in for Derry footballer fighting meningitis

Messages of support are continuing to pour in for Derry footballer Aaron Devlin who faces a "crucial 48 hours" as he battles an aggressive strain of meningitis.

The 22-year-old wing-forward took ill following a midweek challenge game with his club Ballinderry, and was subsequently rushed to hospital and placed on a life-support machine.

Members of the GAA community from Ulster and beyond have rallied behind the University of Ulster Jordanstown student and his family with messages of support in the wake of the troubling news.

Ballinderry, for whom Aaron's brother and intercounty colleague Coilin also plays, have reportedly been inundated with messages from wellwishers, and his plight has been the subject of social media comments from Donegal footballer Eamon McGee, Conor Cusack and former Mayo star Conor Mortimer.

A number of county boards have said the thoughts and prayers of their members are with the Devlin family.

In a Tweet last night, Jordanstown GAA described him as a “born fighter”.

“Aaron... has an aggressive strain of meningitis. Next 24-48 hours crucial. Keep praying we all know Aaron is a born fighter,” it read.

Devlin lined out at wing-forward in last summer’s championship for his county but did not feature this time around after becoming the first GAA player to receive a ban for social media comments following the Derry senior club final back in November.

In 2011 as an 18-year-old county minor Devlin was rushed to hospital after passing out during a club match at Celtic Park. He subsequently underwent tests and told reporters at the time that “I am not totally sure what the knock was. It was like when you look at the sun; it was blocking the ball and I couldn’t see.

“I went over to the management and I said ‘look here, take me off, I can’t see at the minute’.

“Next thing I know I’m waking up in the ambulance going to Altnagelvin. I’d regained consciousness before I left Celtic Park, but I can’t mind it.

“The doctors said they can’t be certain it will never happen again, but it’s likely it will never happen again.”

Last summer Derry’s former All Star defender Kevin McCloy collapsed on the pitch during the second round of the Derry club championship after suffering a heart attack. He made a full recovery.