James Milner was a much loved and respected figure in Bandon G.A.A. Club and the huge crowds of people who paid their respects, and said their heart-broken goodbyes on Thursday night, and on Friday are a true testament to just how everybody felt about him.

James had a hugely successful under-age career with the then St. Brogans, mainly in hurling, winning West Cork championships at all levels, U12, U14, U16, minor, and U21.

In football Bandon kept losing finals including the Minor final to Clonakilty in Dunmanway in 2004.

Bandon bounced straight back however and James was a very important part of the 2005 U21 team that defeated Clonakilty in a thrilling finish in Ahiohill. That was Bandon’s first football success at U21 level for more than 25 years and they eventually lost the County semi-final to Nemo Rangers.

The U21’s would go on to record a famous West Cork double that year beating Newcestown in the U21 hurling final. They went on to lose the first round of the County to Valley Rovers.

In 2009 he was wing-forward on the Junior A hurling team when Bandon became only the second team in history to win the West Cork Junior A Hurling championship with what was their second team. They eventually were narrowly beaten by Fermoy who went on to win the County Junior A.

James was an important part of the Clubs Intermediate hurling panel for a number of years.

He would have been part of the teams that lost two County finals in 2007 and 2008.

James was a very important player in the successful Junior A football winning teams of 2007 against Muintir Bhaire and 2008 against Tadgh McCarthaigh, he played mainly as a half-back or midfield.

He was centre-back on the West Cork winning team against Clann na Gael in the Junior A final of 2011. There followed a gut wrenching County semi-final loss to Kanturk by a point.

During that time Bandon and James also won several West Cork Junior A football leagues.

Other “pursuits” together with James very successful accounting, and later taxation careers took him off to Dublin. James though was always a Bandon man to the core and he and his then girlfriend Sharon celebrated with gusto, the recent County successes in the games he loved.

A true mark of the man, and how big a loss he will be to Bandon G.A.A. Club, is that he still found time for the under-age Club and he was joint Coach, of the Minor football team that won the West Cork and County championships of 2009, defeating Clyda Rovers in the County final in Cloughduv.

Incredibly, James would have been only 24 years of age back then.

He was actively involved in coaching the 2016 and 2017 Minor hurling and football teams.

Ironically during his short illness that team finally “broke their duck“ to win their first West Cork, when they captured the Minor hurling championship after a gripping replay in Barryroe against Owen Gaels.

Truly “this one was for you James”, as he was by then too ill to attend the finals.

The last game he attended was the Minor hurling semi-final in Kilbrittain and even though he was undergoing severe hospital treatment, he more than anyone else, celebrated Bandon defeating a highly fancied Courcey Rovers.

All too soon, James Milner passed away, aged just 32 years, on Wednesday morning last. His wife, family, this entire community, and Bandon G.AA Club, left truly devastated as the heart-breaking news of his death filtered through.

On Wednesday night at a huge gathering of Club and under-age members, testament to the popularity of the man, there was a specially convened Club Meeting in Bandon G.A.A. Club, where a vote of sympathy was passed to his wife Sharon, mother Maureen, brothers Michael and Richard and to his extended family.

James was a much loved and respected figure in Bandon G.A.A. Club and the huge crowds of people who paid their respects, and said their heart-broken goodbyes on Thursday night, and on Friday are a true testament to just how everybody felt about him.

“May the Bandon sod rest lightly on this noble warrior, and may the angels bear him gently to Gods happy playing field “.

Solas na bhFlaitheas ar a anam uasal.