School mourns loss of ‘diligent, courteous’ Shane

A 16-year-old Co Cork boy who died suddenly while playing a schools’ match has been described as a “an extraordinarily skilled sportsman” by his principal.

Shane Murphy, from Clondrohid, a student at Coláiste Ghobnatán in Ballyvourney, collapsed on the pitch and later died.

His principal, Bhreandán O’Lionáird said “there was an enormous sadness in the school”.

“Irrespective of what sport Shane played, football, hurling or basketball, he was equally adept at them all and so he was pivotal to many of our school teams — teams in which he participated enthusiastically and skilfully.”

“He was also a diligent and courteous student and was a pleasure to deal with. There is such a silence in the school this morning and it speaks volumes. It is terrible to think that when he left his home as normal yesterday, nobody knew what lay ahead,” he said.

Ballyvourney parish priest Fr Donal O’Brien attended the school yesterday and was also shaken by the sad atmosphere.

“It was a long time since I saw anything like that. It was so sad in the school. There was just silence.

“It was nearly eerie. People were either walking around in silence or crying,” he said.

Shane, a fifth-year student, was taking part in the Cork Vocational Schools county senior B football semi-final against Kinsale when he collapsed 10 minutes into the second half. He was on the pitch but not actively involved in play.

He was one of five children — Neilus, Daniel, Colin and Caoimhe — and his younger brother is a second-year student at Coláiste Ghobnatán.

Shane’s remains will be removed from his home to St Abina’s Church in Clondrohid tomorrow for his funeral Mass at 1pm.

His death follows the sudden death over the weekend of 21-year-old Cork arts student, Deirdre Lynch.

Deirdre was working at Eco’s restaurant in Douglas when she collapsed on Saturday night. She never regained consciousness.

It will not be known until the coroner’s inquest whether both or either of the young people died of sudden adult death syndrome.

Deirdre’s funeral Mass will take place at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Ballinlough today at 11am with burial at St Michael’s Cemetery in Blackrock.