GAA united in sorrow after death of Tipp star

THE GAA community was cloaked in grief this weekend following the death of young Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke, who collapsed while playing for his club, Clonoulty-Rossmore, on Friday evening.

The 24-year-old took ill during the first half of their match with Kilruane MacDonaghs. He quickly received medical attention on the pitch before being transferred to Tipperary University Hospital by ambulance, where he sadly passed away.

Quirke (right) won an AllIreland minor medal with

Tipp in 2016 and also an AllIreland Under21 medal in

2018, making his senior debut for the Premier County in January 2020.

He featured in all four of Tipp’s Munster SHC games earlier this summer.

All-Ireland winning boss Liam Sheedy, who gave Quirke his senior debut, offered thoughts and prayers to the Quirke family.

‘Dillon was a smashing person on and off the field and all the GAA family are numb at the news,’ he said.

GAA President Larry McCarthy said: ‘There is a huge sense of shock across the GAA community at the tragic loss of Dillon who had already achieved so much in his young life.

‘He was a young man in his prime with so much potential and promise and on behalf of the GAA family, I would like to extend my sympathies to Dillon’s parents, Dan and Hazel, and his sisters, Shannon and Kellie, at what is an unimaginably difficult time,’ he added.

As a mark of respect to the young hurler, Tipperary GAA called off games that were due to take place in the county championship this weekend.