Young camogie player (20) dies after sustaining a head injury during gameplay

The tragic death of a young camogie player following a freak accident during a game has stunned the Galway sporting community.

Many tributes have come in for Kate Moran (21) from Monivea, Co Galway who died 24 hours after suffering a head injury during a club match between Athenry and Ardrahan.

After the incident during a league match on Monday, emergency services rushed to Ardrahan in south Co. Galway.

The game was abandoned while paramedics attended to the talented young player.

Onlookers said it was obvious from the start that the incident was serious and medical crew from three ambulances treated her at the South Co Galway venue before she was taken to University College Hospital. Gardaí also took part in the scene.

She was pronounced dead tonight.

The death has left the Athenry region and Galway sporting community stunned.

Ms Moran, who studied commerce at NUIG, was a prominent player for several underage teams in Galway and comes from a family steeped in GAA.

She was a member of the Galway Minor team that lost to Cork in the 2018 final.

Her father, Cathal Moran, a former Galway hurler, was a mainstay of the Athenry team that won the All-Ireland Club title in 1997, 2000 and 2001.

The celebrations in Athenry were just getting started after the club’s Under-15 hurling and camogie teams completed a unique double by winning the Féile na nGael County titles over the weekend, when the horrifying news of the incident at a senior league game in Ardrahan became known.

Prayers were offered at a special mass in Athenry this morning after news of the incident spread and their worst fears were realised.

A former student at Presentation College, Athenry, she was an accomplished camogie player, winning underage All-Ireland medals with Galway in addition to numerous titles with her club and colleges.

The family run a successful auction house and are well known and respected throughout County Galway.

Kate was the eldest of four children and is survived by parents Mary and Cathal, brother Thady and sisters Leah and Saoirse.

Honors have piled up since news of the tragedy broke.

“This is a terrible tragedy for her family, our club and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events,” the Athenry Camogie Club said in a statement.

“Our sympathy and thoughts are with Moran’s family and friends. Kate will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

“Kate started playing with Athenry Camogie Club as a minor and quickly rose to senior A-level with great distinction. She holds a file, County Minor and other titles. She played in a Club All-Ireland semi-final. “She won two All-Irelands at U16 level with Galway, both titles of which she was incredibly proud. She was a great role model for our many underage players and a wonderful leader on and off the field. Her bubbly personality will be remembered for eternity.

“We have been in contact with Kate’s parents and they have asked that we all understand their need for privacy at this difficult time.

“Offers of support are pouring in and are greatly appreciated.

“The club is open to members to offer support, advice and guidance. We would like to ask you to respect our privacy at this time,” the Athenry Camogie Club statement said.

Galway Camogie also issued a statement expressing his condolences on the young player’s death.

“Our heartfelt and deepest condolences go out to the Moran family, Kate’s friends and all members of the Athenry Camogie Club.

“She was a member of the Galway Camogie Underage Panels and won two U-16 All Ireland medals with Galway. “She was a role model and a leader on and off the pitch.”

Councilor Albert Dolan, who attended both national and secondary school with Kate, described her death as “a terrible shock and tragedy”.

“Kate went to the same national school and high school as me.

“She was an incredibly talented camogie player.

“On behalf of the community of Monivea, I would like to extend our deepest condolences to Kate’s family.”

Oranmore Maree Senior Camogie has also canceled his games for the coming week.

“The Galway Camogie Clubs received devastating news this morning of the death of a beautiful young Athenry Camogie player, Kate Moran,” the club wrote on its website tonight.

“This is a far reaching tragedy as many of our own older girls would have played with Kate on the NUIG Camogie team and with her at the 2017 Galway U16s and 2018 Galway Minor Panel.”

The club said the entire Camogie community was “absolutely heartbroken” by the news.

“The Oranmore Maree Camogie Club extends our deepest condolences to Kate’s parents Cathal and Mary, Kate’s siblings and the entire Moran family, the Brennan family, Clarinbridge and everyone at Athenry Camogie Club, particularly the Athenry Senior Management & Senior Panel.”

Athenry local councilor Shelly Herterich Quinn said Ms Moran’s tragic death “hits us on different levels”.

She said her sudden death was a devastating blow to the Moran family.

“We are absolutely devastated,” she said Independent.ie.

“We are very much in shock today.”

She described Kate as “a beautiful, talented athlete”.

She said her death sent shockwaves not only through the Camogie and sports communities but throughout the region.

“The outpouring of concern was touching and felt widely,” she said.