Tributes flow for UCC stalwart Morrissey

Munster hockey is this week coming to terms with the news that former UCC MHC player and club captain Elmer Morrissey is missing, feared drowned following a sailing accident in the USA. Tributes flowed for the 32-year-old Glounthaune native, who along with fellow Cork man, 36-year-old Alan Cahill, is one of four people missing after their boat, Low Speed Chase, was hit by a series of waves in the Pacific Ocean, 45km off San Francisco last Saturday. The US Coastguard took the “difficult decision” to suspended its search after two days on the basis that the “window of survivability” had passed. Morrissey, a resident of California, played hockey with UCC in the early 2000s, where he served as club captain, represented the college at intervarsities and was also named club person of the year. He moved onto Belvedere and played a handful of times there, but injury prevented him from continuing his hockey career.

He was renowned as a gentleman on and off the pitch, and many of his friends and former playing colleagues yesterday left moving tributes to him. Current UCC player Graham Catchpole recalled his first encounter with Morrissey: “I was playing for Church of Ireland seconds against UCC. UCC were 2-0 down at half-time. UCC needed a win to avoid relegation that season and ended up winning 3-2. “Elmer, normally a centre back, got one of these goals. I remember he threw himself full stretch on the astro-turf to touch in at the back post – he destroyed his knees and elbows. “A year later I was on the same team as Elmer in my first UCC huddle. I have one very distinct memory from this huddle – Elmer’s speech. I will never forget the pride and the passion with which he wore the skull and crossbones. On the pitch he led by example and was always willing to put his body on the line – ignoring what the physio had advised on more than one occasion. “Off the pitch he was a gentleman who had time for everyone. It was impossible not to smile when you met him around campus. He was the life and soul of any night out.” Speaking to the Irish Times, Phil Oakley recalled that Morrissey jokingly sported the number 13 shirt because he was “so unlucky with injuries”. “Elmer was on the more adventurous side with sports. He also got into running distances. We both got into writing a sports blog at the same time and his was so funny. “Whenever he was introduced anywhere we would say ‘this is Elmer’ and there was always the caveat that it was actually his real name. You wouldn’t forget him. One of our friends is getting married in Italy in August and he was due to be one of the best men. It was going to be a big reunion of all the people in college.”