24-Year-Old Irish Hurler Dies After Collapsing on Pitch Mid-Game

Tipperary hurler Dillon Quirke, 24, died after collapsing during a county senior championship game on Friday.

Quirke was carried off the field at Semple Stadium in Thurles just before halftime.

After the match stopped, medical personnel transported the emerging intercounty star to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel, where he later died.

A spokesman for Tipperary GAA confirmed that Quirke had died on Friday evening.

Irish President Michael D Higgins described Quirke’s death as an “inestimable loss not only to his family and friends but to his entire community to which he was making such a contribution.”

Age 24, super fit. Died suddenly 😢 https://t.co/AzEB6uZ5KK

— ABabySeagull🇬🇧 (@ABabySeagull) August 6, 2022

Tipperary Hurler Dillon Quirke, Dead at 24 after Collapsing Mid-Game…

Stretched off the field at Semple Stadium just before half time…

Irish president Michael D. Higgins said Mr. Quirke's death was an "inestimable loss"…

South Tipperary GAA paid tribute…

– BBC pic.twitter.com/1bE4UeTXJR

— Dr. James E. Olsson (@DrJamesOlsson) August 6, 2022

The thoughts of everyone connected with South Tipperary GAA are with everyone in Clonoulty-Rossmore tonight on the tragic passing of Dillon Quirke. Taken far too young. RIP pic.twitter.com/cavVh71nnR

— Coiste Chontae Thiobraid Arann Theas (@south_tippGAA) August 5, 2022

BBC reported:

Taoiseach (Irish PM) Micheál Martin also expressed his sympathies, saying that he was “shocked and saddened” to hear about the hurler’s passing.

South Tipperary GAA have paid tribute to the athlete, saying he was “taken far too young.”

All hurling championship games due to take place this weekend in the county have been postponed as a mark of respect, Tipperary GAA have confirmed.

The Irish Times added:

The 24-year-old made his Tipp senior debut against Limerick in January 2020 having won All-Ireland minor and under-21 medals with the county in 2016 and 2018 respectively. He started all four of Tipperary’s Munster Hurling Championship games this year. All hurling championship games scheduled for this weekend in Tipperary are to be postponed as a mark of respect.

The president of the GAA Larry McCarthy has offered his sympathies to the family and friends of Quirke.

“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,” McCarthy said.

“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 father and mother, Dan and Hazel, and his sisters, Shannon and Kellie, at what is an unimaginably difficult time.”

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