A mother and father looked on in horror as their teenage son, a talented Cork hurler with a history of heart problems, collapsed and died while playing for his local club, it emerged today.
Liam O'Regan a goalkeeper with Ballinora GAA Club died last night 10 minutes into the second half of a game against rivals Kilmichael.
The 17-year-old had just cleared the ball from the goalmouth when he collapsed and despite the immediate efforts of two doctors administering CPR he could not be revived.
An ambulance was on the scene within 15 minutes and Liam was brought to Cork University Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
His parents were on the sideline and his brother was playing in the same team.
John Brosnan, chairman of Ballinora GAA Club, refused to speculate on what may have caused the sudden death but said the young man had suffered heart problems in the past.
"It's early days yet. It would look as if it's something in that area but I could not comment with any knowledge obviously on the exact situation here. He did have a history of heart problems," Mr Brosnan said.
The county had lost a talented and eager player, Mr Brosnan added.
"He was very passionate about games, hurling and football. He won a county medal at under-14, county championship.
"Hurling was the great passion of his life. Both his parents are from Kilkenny and he was very taken with Kilkenny hurling.
"He was a very popular boy with his peers, and very respected and he was a boy of strong individual ideas.
Liam's father Michael is chairman of under eight section of the Ballinora club and was also a selector and his brother Daragh played on the same team.
It was Liam's first game back after the league was stopped to allow players to study for their Leaving Certificate.
Gaelic Games has been rocked by a number of tragic deaths on sports fields in the last few years many of which have been blamed on Sudden Adult Death Syndrome.
SADS is caused by a variety of heart conditions that may result in unexpected cardiac arrests, often in teenagers.
A post mortem exam will be carried out there later today by assistant state pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster and the local coroner has been informed.