Shay Given pays touching online tribute to Pat Shovelin

Shay Given has paid a touching tribute to ‘a true gentleman’ and ‘a best friend’, the late Pat Shovelin.

Former Republic of Ireland international Given helped carry the coffin at Pat’s funeral today in Doneyloop.

Hundreds of mourners had St Columba’s Church overflowing.

Former Donegal GAA goalkeeping coach Shovelin died at the weekend following a nine-month battle with cancer.

“Today was up there with one of the hardest of my life,” Given, writing on Instagram, said.

“Pat Shovelin. Only 41. A true gentleman. A best friend. A loving husband. A proud father to his two boys, Ethan (5) and Tom (1).

“A fellow Donegal man and a fellow goalkeeper.

“I never expected to have to carry you in a coffin, carry you out of the pub yes, but this, no.

“Our hearts are broken. Whole county in mourning. We will all be strong for you Pat, the happiest man who I ever met, you would want us to be strong for you, and we will. God Rest you. Love you Pat ??#SafeHands”

Today was up there with one of the hardest of my life. Pat Shovelin. Only 41. A true gentleman. A best friend. A loving husband. A proud father to his two boys, Ethan (5) and Tom (1). A fellow Donegal man and a fellow goalkeeper. I never expected to have to carry you in a coffin, carry you out of the pub yes, but this, no. Our hearts are broken. Whole county in mourning. We will all be strong for you Pat, the happiest man who I ever met, you would want us to be strong for you, and we will. God Rest you. Love you Pat ??#SafeHands

A post shared by Shay Given (@no1shaygiven) on Oct 24, 2017 at 10:18am PDT