On Sunday evening, Hugh Harper left his grieving family to meet his sporting family. 

Having lost his 14-year-old daughter Leona in the explosion in Creeslough on Friday, he visited the rugby club where they have spent so many happy family days.

Leona had played for the girls under-14s team at Letterkenny Rugby Club, which has a proud tradition of standing by the community it serves.

The junior girl’s coach Colin Farrell is currently in the US but said in a statement that Leona joined the club’s mini rugby team as a youngster.

“Her competitive edge and sporting prowess was evident back then when she was six,” he said.

“Leona was an absolute pleasure to coach with her great attitude and her great sense of humour.

“On the pitch she was fiercely competitive and although still learning the game she was clearly developing into a fantastic young player.”

Donegal explosion: Parents hug children at vigil for 10 people killed in Ireland petrol station blast

Donegal explosion: Rescuer who pulled people from debris says one man was saved by a table

Donegal explosion: Girl, 5, and her father were buying birthday cake for mum when they were killed in petrol station blast

The sports-mad teenager also followed Liverpool Football Club and had recently taken up boxing inspired by Irish legend Katie Taylor.

Letterkenny coach Jeremy Worth told Sky News games had been called off this weekend as they tried to come to terms with the tragedy.

“We are all in a state of disbelief, we are all shocked…she’s an integral part of our club,” he said.

“She was someone who liked to push the boundaries and try new things, it is just tragic that someone with such a positive mindset has been taken at such a tender age.

“She’s from a rugby family, her Dad was a coach here, he also played for the club her brother Jamie played I think Anthony has played as well.

“Their mother Donna was a volunteer here and has helped even serving teas and doing all those important jobs.”

Mr Worth said her father’s visit to the club on Sunday to meet his daughter’s former teammates and other club members was “heart-breaking”.

“Donegal is a very tight community and when things happen, they do completely back each other up,” he said.

“We should also recognise the others involved in this…there are a lot of other people we know who are in the tragedy, so our heart goes out to them as well.”

Read more:
Parents hug children at vigil for 10 people killed in Ireland petrol station blast
Girl, 5, and her father were buying birthday cake for mum when they were killed
Rescuer who pulled people from debris says one man was saved by a table

‘She could show the boys a thing or two on the pitch’

Fellow coach Peter Orsi told Sky News the whole rugby family had sent messages of support.

“Her teammates are devastated in here at the minute, they are just getting consoled, she was a lovely little girl who put her heart into everything.

“She could show the boys a thing or two on the pitch!

“We are just not programmed for a child to be taken from us like this, when this happens it’s like one of your own gone.

“Some of the guys in this club were called down as members of the emergency services to scramble through that rubble, to take kids and people out of there.

“They are in here as well having to deal with this.”

Mr Orsi said Leona’s father had said just how much he appreciated the support they’d received from across the world of rugby over the weekend.

“It has been such a comfort for Hugh and the family,” he added.

“He actually texted me to say he was just blown away and moved by the support from clubs up and down Ireland and across Britain.”

“I said to him that rugby is like this – when a leaf falls from a branch, the tree feels the pain.”

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