FORMER KERRY GAA star Pat Spillane has paid tribute to inter-county teammate Ray Prendiville after he was slain in a shooting in Namibia on Friday.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Sunday Game show before the Kerry and Dublin All-Ireland semi final, Spillane took time out to mark Prendiville’s passing with a short tribute.
“Ray was a sub for that [All-Ireland] final day in 1975… I want to send out my sympathies to his family. It is a sad day.”
There was a burst of applause for Prendiville, and recently deceased poet Seamus Heaney, followed by a respectful silence before thrown-in at Croke Park this afternoon.
The Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed to TheScore.ie on Saturday that Prendiville had been shot and killed in Namibia, where he was working with a security firm, on Friday.
Prendiville also played for club side Scartaglin and with the Garda team in the Dublin county championship following a move to the capital in the late 70s. He scored a goal for The Kingdom in his only championship outing, against Tipperary, and was on the bench for the final, a month later, when Kerry beat Dublin. Spillane scored three points as Kerry won 2-12 to 0-11.
Kerry GAA and Independent TD Tom Fleming also shared memories of the footballer and passed on their sympathies to the Prendiville family.
