Damian Casey

Career Casey first emerged as a hurler at juvenile and underage levels with the Eoghan Ruadh, Dungannon club in Dungannon. He advanced onto the club's senior team and was involved in four Tyrone SHC title-winning teams.

Casey made his first appearance on the inter-county scene when he was selected for the Tyrone under-16 hurling team. An All-Ireland medal winner in this grade, he later won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship medal as a member of the Tyrone team. He then joined the under-21 team, before making his senior debut during the 2012 National League. He became a regular member of the starting fifteen and went on to win Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup titles.

In 2014, Casey captained the first Tyrone team to win a Nicky Rackard Cup.

Casey scored fourteen points (including nine from frees and two 65s) from Tyrone's total of 1–27 in the 2022 Nicky Rackard Cup final eleven-point win against Roscommon at Croke Park on 21 May. Vigils occurred following his death. Those in attendance recited the Hurler's Prayer. Ahead of the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship quarter-finals, which took place at Semple Stadium the day after Casey's death, a minute's silence was held, with RTÉ pundit Anthony Daly stating: "He scored 14 points in Croke Park just a few weeks ago. It's just such a loss".

He was posthumously selected for the Ring, Rackard and Meagher Team of the Year, announced on 18 October 2022 and, three days later, was announced as Nicky Rackard Cup Hurler of the Year. He was also posthumously selected as Ulster GAA Hurler of the Year in November 2022.

Career statistics

Honours Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon Tyrone Senior Hurling Championship: 2012, 2013, 2018, 2019 2022 National Hurling League Division 3B: 2014 (c.)

Awards GAA/GPA Champion 15: 2019, 2020, 2021 Nicky Rackard Cup Champion 15: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016