Niall Grace played for Institute at 3pm on Saturday.
He was central to the 4-0 dismantling of PSNI as the Derry club moved two points off the top of the Northern Ireland Football League Championship table.
He was in town in the evening, like thousands were, with the Club MTV event taking place in the city. He was probably celebrating, doing what 22-year-olds do after a win on a Saturday.
That night, he was assaulted and, now, he’s fighting for his life.
Photos by Tom Heaney of nwpresspics.
Perhaps not many people know outside of the north west but, as a natural talent, Niall Grace is one of the brightest.
He’s a classy midfielder that’d send you shopping with one drop of the shoulder. He always seems to have time on the ball, he always seems to see a pass that no-one else is even looking for. He’s tall and athletic. ‘Stute use his aerial skills – they did it on Saturday when a flick-on set up the side’s second goal.
His technique is frightening.
He’s been doing it for a while now and it’s why Derry City legend – and Institute manager – Kevin Deery wasted no time in calling the man central to his success at Trojans up to the Irish League.
Even in Saturday Morning League football in Derry with Westbank, it was clear that this guy had something that the rest of them didn’t. He’s from Shantallow, a residential hub on the outskirts of the city and it shows. He’s a street footballer like Paddy McCourt before him from the same area. Like Charlton’s exciting young prospect Mikhail Kennedy. He likes the ball at his feet, he likes making things happen.
Now though, he is critically ill and all that footballing promise is put to one side for the moment.
https://twitter.com/Institute_FC/status/774987157949779968
A 22-year-old man is due in the city’s magistrates courts on Monday charged with GBH with intent in relation to the attack, said to have taken place at 12.45am on Sunday.
22yo man due in L'Derry Mag Court tomorrow charged with GBH with intent following serious assault in Waterloo St early this morning.
— Police Derry City and Strabane (@PSNIDCSDistrict) September 11, 2016
Grace is currently in Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. The thoughts and prayers of the entire football community are with this young man.
