The uncle of tragic young hurler Dillon Quirke has paid an emotional tribute to his nephew.
Quirke, 24, was playing for his club Clonoulty-Rossmore against Kilruane MacDonaghs at Semple Stadium in Thurles on Friday evening when he became ill.
He received medical attention before being brought to Tipperary University Hospital in Clonmel where he later died.
READ MORE: Young GAA star who died after collapsing on pitch 'taken far too young'
The young man's death has devastated the GAA community, most acutely at Dillon's Clonoulty/Rossmore club, where Andrew Fryday, Dillon's uncle, is the chairman.
Fryday told RTE News: "He was a pure gentleman, a lovely, lovely young man who had anything you’d want in a hurler. A fine, big strong man. Fit and able, a leader on the field.
"He was captain of our club team this year, he led from the front.
"His uncle-in-law, Declan Ryan, our former Tipperary manager, was manager and coach of the team, and Dillon absolutely loved him, he'd do anything for him.
"We were very hopeful this year that we'd drive on and do the repeats of 2018 and put another county title on the table.
"Dillon also won a U21 county final for his club at 18, and he won a county final with the club in 2014 at U16 as well. His curriculum vitae was absolutely immense.
"We were so looking forward to him leading the way for the next number of years for us."
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