Tributes paid to tragic Galway hurler

Heart-felt tributes have been paid to a young GAA star following his tragic death on Wednesday.

Galway senior hurler Niall Donoghue should have celebrating his 23rd birthday today.

Galway Hurling Board secretary, Pat Kearney, a fellow clubman of Niall’s at Kilbeacanty, said the local community was devastated by his death. He said Niall had been a lovely young man and a brilliant asset to the club “the most prominent player we had since the ’80s”.

The manager of the Galway senior hurling team, Anthony Cunningham, who spoke to Niall on Tuesday, said he was “in brilliant form and looking forward to coming back to training”. Cunningham said Niall was of “unique character and a huge inspiration” to all who knew him.

Clare’s All-Ireland hat-trick goal hero, Shane O’Donnell, who is a second cousin of Niall, said “Niall was the guy who allowed me to dream”.

Niall is survived by his father, Francis, brother Shane and sister Orla. His mother passed away some years ago.

Niall featured prominently with the Galway seniors in last year’s All Ireland Senior Championship. He won the All-Ireland under-21 title with Galway in 2011.