Extraordinary 8-year-old GAA player who lost legs and fingers on right hand meets football heroes

Meet the 8-year-old Irish American playing Gaelic sports against all odds.

Conall Harvey is inspiring the nation. The youth has no legs, and no fingers on his right hand, but it hasn't stopped him playing football.

Harvey, who plays with the Delco Gaels in Delaware, was diagnosed with leukemia in 2015. In order for his life to be saved, he had to have his limbs amputated. 

In order for Harvey to play sports, he has to make sure all the screws are aligned in his artificial legs. Even when it comes to holding the ball without fingers in his right hand, he explained to reporter Jerome Quinn,  "I just hold it. Squeeze it together."

The brave football star was given a special treat this weekend, however, as he was flown to Ireland to experience every young Gaelic footballer's dream: a ticket to the All-Ireland final and the chance to meet with his heroes. 

Before Sunday's final, Harvey made his way to the Tyrone dressing room where he was presented with a signed jersey by manager Mickey Harte. The trip was organized by Club Tyrone New York. 

He also made an appearance on Saturday night's "Up for the Match:"

Brave young GAA player Conall Harvey, who was diagnosed with leukaemia via sepsis shock, has flown all the way from Philadelphia to support Tyrone in tomorrow's All Ireland Final thanks to Club Tyrone🏆#UpfortheMatch pic.twitter.com/3naTdyvTwi

— RTE One (@RTEOne) September 1, 2018

The optimistic and determined star player lined out at the Continental Youth Championships in Boston recently.

"One of the luckiest things about me is they didn't do this [remove the fingers] from my left hand because I was always a lefty," he said.

"He's just part of the team. They throw him right in there," his mother Christin Harvey added.

"He might not catch up with the other children but he tries and he thinks he does which is the best part and he loves just coming to the game, coming to practice. He feels like he's just a normal eight-year-old with this team."

The proud mother said that his teammates "automatically think of him" and "they look out for him". She also noted that the affection and support within the GAA organization has been "incredible".

The remarkable Conall Harvey will feature on the next video report from the CYC in Boston. The Delco Gaels U-8 was interviewed by Jerome Quinn Media today for a video that will appear on the official #GAA Youtube Channel.. pic.twitter.com/GdbiUSE6Bu

— Jerome Quinn (@JeromeQuinn) August 2, 2018

"It's huge for any sport, but for this sport in particular, for Gaelic football/hurling/camogie that they don't think twice about it [Conall's disability]," she stated.

While praising the GAA, she added that you don't usually see the same type of friendship and camaraderie in American sports.

Harvey's coach also chimed in to praise the youngster.

"He's a great kid," Liam Moore said.

"He had a real fight on his hands there for a couple of years or more there and I hope he's won it every day."