A WEST Kerry footballer lost his fight for life at Cork University Hospital yesterday afternoon after collapsing while playing last Sunday.
Brendan O’Driscoll (28) collapsed 10 minutes into the second half while playing for his Gaelic football team Annascaul in a west Kerry championship game against Lispole.
The wing-forward was treated at the scene before being brought to Kerry General Hospital and he was later transferred to Cork University Hospital. He was in a critical condition with a suspected brain haemorrhage.
An operation was not possible and his life-support machine was switched off yesterday afternoon, with his extended family present.
There was a “deep sadness and state of shock” at the club for the loss of a “such a great player”, Annascaul public relations officer Seán Barry said.
Mr O’Driscoll was an “absolute gentleman”, a “lovely fellow” and “you wouldn’t find anyone with anything bad to say about him”.
He was also a noted soccer player with Camp United and Lisselton Rovers and he represented Kerry in the Oscar Traynor Cup.
He won a junior international cap three years ago.
Mr Barry spoke of Mr O’Driscoll’s commitment. “He trained hard and never let the club down. He was very dedicated to the club and one of our leading players who set a shining example to younger players.”
He was a member of a well-known sporting family, who all play with Annascaul.
The player had scored 1-1 of Annascaul’s 1-4 score before he collapsed on Sunday. He played the previous week for West Kerry and scored a point as they lost out in the senior football championship semi-final to Dr Crokes by a point.
Mr O’Driscoll was also a talented soccer player. “Every weekend he would tog out for both [Gaelic and soccer] teams, even if he played two matches on the same day,” Mr Barry said.
His three brothers, Vincent, Chris and Micheál, all play soccer. He is also survived by his parents Vincent and Mary, his brothers and his sister Aisling.
He was a nephew of the All-Ireland medal winner Tommy Doyle who played for Kerry’s senior team in the 1970s and 1980s.