Tributes have been paid to a 13-year-old girl who died after falling ill during a youth soccer match in Termonfeckin, Co Louth on Thursday evening.
Zara Murphy collapsed during a Louth School Girls League (LSGC) match and was taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
The girl’s father, Brian, who is involved in football in the county, was at the match and rushed to Zara’s side to assist before an ambulance arrived.
A death notice posted on RIP.ie said Zara, from the Westcourt area of Drogheda, is survived by her father, mother Angela and brother Ben and will be missed by her grandparents Jacinta and Joe, aunts, uncles and cousins. Her funeral is to take place in Drogheda on Tuesday.
Dundalk Football Club said there would be a minute’s silence ahead of Friday’s SSE Airtricity League Premier Division Louth derby between it and Drogheda United at Oriel Park.
Fr Patrick Rushe, from the parish of Monasterboice, who is filling in for the local parish priest, extended his sympathies and condolences to Zara’s family, friends and “the young people” who present at Thursday night’s match who witnessed the incident.
“It’s such a tragedy that is beyond comprehension and is beyond words when a life is cut short. It defies all explanation and we question what life is all about,” he said. “It makes us realise that life is finite and that we need to treasure every day and indeed the memories.”
Termonfeckin Celtic Football Club, who Zara was playing for when she collapsed, offered its “deepest sympathies” to the “family, friends and team-mates on her untimely passing”.
The FAI and the Louth School Girls League released a statement on Friday paying tribute to Zara, who was described as a “dedicated sports star across many disciplines”.
Bróna Mackin, children’s officer with the Louth School Girls League, said: “The first thoughts of all coming to terms with this tragedy are with Brian, Angela and Ben. Nobody can comprehend what the family are going through now and we are all heartbroken for them.
“Zara was a wonderfully committed footballer who loved the game. She had previously played for Glen Magic until her recent transfer to Termonfeckin Celtic and thus many of her fellow players will be so touched by this devastating news. As her league, we can only offer all our support to Zara’s family, to both clubs and to all affected by this shocking loss of one so young.”
FAI president Paul Cooke added: “The news that came our way on Thursday evening was so shocking. To learn of the passing of a talented footballer at such a young age is particularly devastating.”
FAI grassroots director Ger McDermott said the football community was “so shocked” to learn of the news of Zara’s death.
Mr McDermott said FAI local development officer Mick Neville and support staff have been liaising with the clubs and the Louth School Girls League and will make every assistance available to all affected as they come to terms with what happened.
“We also extend our sympathies to our referees in Louth as Zara’s dad Brian is the chair of the Louth Branch of the Irish Referees Society and all his refereeing colleagues will share our sense of loss today,” he added.
