Tragic Galway GAA star Kate Moran's death after head injury stuns community

Tributes have flooded in for the talented young player from Monivea, Co Galway, who died 24 hours after suffering a head injury during a club match between Athenry and Ardrahan.

Emergency services rushed to Ardrahan in south Co Galway following the accident which occurred during a league game on Monday.

The game was abandoned as emergency medics attended to the player.

It is understood Ms Moran, who was wearing a helmet, initially walked away from an accidental collision but minutes later lost consciousness.

It is also understood Ms Moran and another player went up for a ball at the same time and her head was hit by the backswing of the hurl.

She was rushed to University Hospital Galway where she was pronounced dead yesterday evening.

The death has stunned the Athenry area and the sporting community across Co Galway.

The NUIG commerce student was a prominent player for several Galway underage teams 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.

As a gesture of respect to Ms Moran and her family, Galway Camogie announced the postponement of all adult and juvenile games this week.

Athenry Camogie Club last night paid tribute to Ms Moran as a "tremendous role model" and a "wonderful leader with a bubbly personality".

"Today we learned of the death of our dear club-mate, Kate Moran," it said.

"This is a terrible tragedy for her family, our club and our community. We are deeply saddened by these events.

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

"Kate began playing with Athenry Camogie Club at underage level and quickly progressed to Senior A level with great distinction. She holds a Féile, Minor County and Intermediate County title. She played in a club All-Ireland Intermediate final.

"She won two All-Irelands at U16 level with Galway, both titles she was incredibly proud of.

"She was a tremendous role model for our many underage players and a wonderful leader both on and off the field of play.

"Her bubbly personality will be remembered for eternity."

Ms Moran was an integral part of the Galway U16 teams which won back-to-back All-Irelands, beating Kilkenny in 2016 and Wexford in 2017.

Galway County Council member Albert Dolan, who attended both national and secondary school with Kate, described her death as a "horrendous shock and a tragedy".

"Kate attended the same national school and secondary school as myself," he said.

"She was an incredibly talented camogie player.

"On behalf of the community of Monivea I want to express our deepest sympathies."

Oranmore-Maree Senior Camogie also cancelled its games for the coming week.

"Galway Camogie clubs woke up to devastating news this morning with the passing of a beautiful young Athenry camogie player, Kate Moran," the club wrote on its website yesterday.

"This is a far-reaching tragedy as many of our own senior girls would have played with Kate on the NUIG camogie team."

The club said the camogie community was "absolutely heartbroken" by the news.

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

The family run a successful auctioneering business and are well-known in Co Galway.