Another sudden death on the sports field claimed the life of a young soccer player in Kilkenny at the weekend.
Mr Ken Byrne (25), of Ballykeeffe, Cuffesgrange, was playing with his local club River Rangers on Saturday against Newpark in a divisional cup final of the Kilkenny & District Soccer League.
Early in the second half the winger, a leading goalscorer with the Rangers, collapsed on the pitch.
He was not involved in a tackle or in any physical contact with another player.
A number of nurses who were at the game tried to revive him. They were joined by paramedics from St Luke's General Hospital. The player was taken to St Luke's where he died a short time later.
His twin brother, Dave, was playing alongside him while his sister, Ann, was among the supporters from the parish of Kilmanagh.
He has one other brother, Michael.
The twins had been hoping to complete the double with Rangers after their team had performed really well in winning the Division 2A League.
It was to have been a night of celebration in Kilmanagh.
Instead the area was in shock. Mr Byrne was seen as a dedicated soccer player, a non-smoker and non-drinker. He was single.
He was seen as a player with a bright future. He had won the divisional player of the year in Kilkenny soccer last season and had also played with the Kilkenny & District League Oscar Traynor side.
Club secretary Mr Gerry Dunne said the player would be a huge loss to his club and particularly to his family.
"He was an exemplary club member, a fine player, a model son and brother. He will be sadly missed," said Mr Dunne.
Clubmates and opponents were in tears as a medical team fought to save his life. The game was abandoned by referee Mr Tom Walsh.
Yesterday was to have been the biggest day of the year in local junior football.
Planned for the morning was a Division 1 Cup final while in the afternoon the McCalmont cup decider between Ormonde Villa and East End was due to be played at Derdimus Park.
But instead of being a day of celebration in Kilkenny soccer, it was a day of mourning as family and friends of Mr Byrne, and supporters of the game in the region, tried to come to terms with the tragedy.
Mr Byrne's remains were removed to Ardkeen Hospital in Waterford for a post-mortem examination.
It was the second such tragedy in Kilkenny recently. A month ago 37-year-old Mr John Byrne (no relation) collapsed and died at a friendly rugby game in Foulkstown, Kilkenny.