An 18-year-old hurler died while playing in a match in Shanballymore in north Cork last night
The teenager, named locally as Kevin Quinn, was playing for Harbour Rovers in a Division III North Cork Junior Hurling League match against Newtownshandrum.
Mr Quinn, who was playing in the half-forward line, contested a ball with two other players just four minutes into the match. When play moved on, he was seen lying on the ground clutching his chest.
It is understood he had no obvious signs of injury and the suspicion last night was that he may have suffered a cardiac arrest.
However, the exact cause of death will not be known until a post-mortem is carried out today.
A doctor was called but the teenager - an apprentice electrician from Glanworth village - was pronounced dead at the scene. A local priest had earlier performed the last rites.
Mr Quinn's remains were last night removed by ambulance to Cork University Hospital.
The Deputy State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster will carry out the post-mortem examination later today.
The match was abandoned immediately.
Local Fianna Fáil representative, Cllr Frank O'Flynn, said that the tragedy, which came just two days before the county's hurlers take on Wexford in the All-Ireland hurling semi-final, had stunned and saddened all of north Cork.
Last month, a 23-year-old Wexford man died several hours after playing in a local football match. Mr Noel Quill had played with Shelmalier GAA Club in a junior football B league game when he suddenly became "dizzy" during the match.
His parents found him dead when they went to wake him the following morning.
In June, a 15-year-old Junior Cert student, George Fitzgerald, collapsed when playing rounders at school and died a short time later.
Tyrone GAA captain Mr Cormac McAnallen died in March at the age of 24. A short time after, 18-year-old rugby player Mr John McCall died while on tour in South Africa.
