Popular Wicklow footballer Ray Daniels died tragically over the
weekend, just days before he was due to return to training.

‘Rasher’ Daniels, a former Wicklow goalkeeper, died at Naas Hospital,
having taken ill in a taxi on Saturday night on his way to Naas from
Blessington.

The 28-year-old had recently finished dialysis treatment, and had also
recovered from an injury sustained during his last match with Wicklow
in a league clash with Sligo in Aughrim last April.

Daniels was a very popular and talented member of the county team, and had played for years with Blessington.

He originally started his footballing career with Dunlavin. He leaves behind his fiance Linda and his son Ben, (2).

Tributes to the footballer have been pouring in over the weekend from
his colleagues in the GAA and neighbours and friends in Blessington.
A post morten is to investigate the possibility that the star died of
a heart attack.

Daniels’ brother, Jonathan  commented: “When we got to the hospital we were told that that Ray had had a massive heart attack. He had had a seizure and a heart-attack, that was what we were told.  However, they could not say for certain just what had been the cause of death.”

The shock of the father-of-one’s death was even more pronounced after Daniels had recently been given the all clear following lengthy dialysis treatment for a kidney complaint.

“Ray had just got the all-clear form the doctor, last Tuesday,” said Jonathan.  “We were all thrilled as we had been worried for him.  We were looking forward to getting back to normality and I know that Ray was really looking forward to getting back to playing football.

“To hear the bad news was an unbelievable shock for the family.  We are devastated.”
Daniels had recently spent six weeks being treated in Tallaght hospital for a kidney complaint and had been given the all clear just a few days before his eventual death.  However, it is not yet certain whether or not there is a link between the Carrig Glen man’s death and the kidney illness.

The popular netminder last played for his county in Wicklow last National football league game in April 2007, when he tore a groin muscle in the defeat to Sligo.

After a successful operation to fix that tear, Daniels was hoping to make it back to the pitch but the sudden onset of a kidney illness left the Blessington clubman battling for his health.

However, Daniels had looked to have successfully fought off the illness and had his eyes set on a return to the Gaelic field but that was not be.