Derek O'Connor pays tribute

It's a desperately sad day, and my first thoughts are for Caroline, the children, and the whole family. Theirs is the greatest loss, but everyone with any connection to point-to-pointing in Ireland will feel we have lost someone who represented the very best in the sport.

As a youngster when I started out, I looked up to JT and admired him. That never changed through the years as we became friends and rivals. He set the standard, and was chiefly responsible for bringing a professional approach to riding in points.

He was champion before Davy Russell came on the scene. The example he set helped Davy to raise his own game on the way to becoming one of the top professionals. He paved the way for riders such as myself and Jamie Codd, and we are all grateful for that.