A young man injured after colliding with another player during a soccer match in Navan, Co Meath, on Wednesday evening died in hospital early yesterday.
Paul Quinn (21), who had recently qualified as an architect, never regained consciousness after his head came in contact with the knee of another player during the second half of the challenge match.
He was rushed to Our Lady's Hospital, Navan, and later transferred to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda for a brain scan before being returned to his local hospital in Navan, where he remained on a life-support machine until early yesterday.
His death is being treated as a tragic accident.
Eamon Kelly, secretary of Navan Cosmos football club, with whom Paul and his only brother had been playing at the time of the accident, said everyone was in shock at the young man's death.
"About 10 minutes into the second half, a ball came through. Paul dipped down to head it and another player also went for it. His head collided with the other player's knee. It was just a freak accident. It wouldn't have even been a free. It happened in seconds. He collapsed instantly and he never regained consciousness," he said.
"Himself and his older brother Stephen played with the club. He was a very promising up-and-coming player. And he was the heart and soul of the dressing room. He was very well liked and a very committed player.
"He had just qualified as an architect and had begun a new job in Navan town. The whole town is stunned," he added.
The young man's parents, Pat and Theresa Quinn, were holidaying in Portugal when the accident occurred. They flew home on Thursday to be at their son's bedside.
"They are a well-known family and his Mam and Dad would be at all the games. They had even rang at half-time on Wednesday night to see how the game was going," Mr Kelly said.
The pre-season challenge match in which the dead man sustained his injuries was between Navan Cosmos and Skryne/Tara.
His body was removed to his family home at Abbey Grove, Navan, yesterday.
Paul had began working with Paul Carroll & Associates, a firm of architects in Navan. Its offices were closed yesterday as a mark of respect.
The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) said it was deeply saddened to learn of Mr Quinn's death. It said he had been attended to after the accident by match referee Rueben McManus and members of both teams had rendered assistance until the ambulance arrived at the pitch.
"On behalf of the Football Association of Ireland, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to Paul's parents Pat and Theresa, members of his family and his team-mates from Navan Cosmos," FAI chief executive John Delaney said.
"Our thoughts, prayers and support are with his family and friends at this time," he added.
Tommy Reilly, the mayor of Navan, said the town was in a state of shock.
"This was an outgoing and sporting young lad. It's a terrible tragedy," Mr Reilly said.