GAA player dies after match collapse

THE Kerry GAA player who collapsed during a local derby championship game at the weekend died yesterday.

Brendan O’Driscoll passed away shortly before 5pm at Cork University Hospital where he had been in intensive care since he fell ill last Sunday afternoon.

His family had maintained a constant vigil at his bedside throughout the week and they were last night being comforted by relatives and friends at their home in the west Kerry village of Camp.

The 28-year-old construction worker was playing for Annascaul against neighbouring club Lispole in the West Kerry Championship when he suddenly fell to the ground 10 minutes into the second half.

It is believed he suffered a brain haemorrhage and he did not regain consciousness.

Players from both sides rushed to his assistance before he was moved by ambulance to Kerry General Hospital. He was later transferred to Cork where he was placed under the care of a specialist neurosurgical team who battled to save his life.

Brendan, who was not married but was in a relationship with a local girl, was an all-round sportsman and played football for Kerry County League top-flight club Annascaul and the West Kerry divisional team.

He was also a talented soccer player and regularly lined out with Camp United as well as representing Ireland at junior international grade.

Paying tribute to Brendan last night, Annascaul GAA Club PRO, Seán Barry, said the entire west Kerry area was shocked and saddened by his death.

“It’s hard to put it into words just how we feel. Everybody is devastated and it will take us a very long time to come to terms with this,” he said.

He described Brendan as “a fantastic sportsman and a complete gentleman” who was one of the most influential players in the club’s proud history.

“He was a very gentle kind of a guy who let his boots do the talking and he was a star for Annascaul since he first started playing at under 12 level,” Mr Barry said.

Brendan came from a great footballing tradition and his uncles on his mother’s side, Tommy and Johnny Doyle, both wore the green and gold of Kerry with distinction while other close relatives, Gene O’Driscoll, Bingo O’Driscoll and Genie Farrell also lined out with Kerry at senior level.

Brendan is survived by his parents, Vincent and Mary, brothers Jamie, Vincent Jnr, Chris and Micheál, sister Ashling and girlfriend Kate.

Removal will take place from his home on Friday night to Annascaul parish church and he will be laid to rest on Saturday following funeral mass in the Church of the Sacred Heart in Annascaul.