Aoibheann Clarke, 16, died after collapsing during a final(Image: Wexford Youths Womens Football Club/Facebook)
A 16-year-old girl has tragically died after collapsing during a football final.
Aoibheann Clarke, 16, was given CPR on the pitch while playing in the Girls Minor Division 6 Shield Gaelic football final in Taghmon, Ireland on Tuesday night. She was rushed to hospital in ambulance, but died a short time later.
Eyewitnesses told local media that spectators' attention had been on an on-field clash between two players as the game went into extra time, before the alarm was raised over the 16-year-old girl's condition at the other end of the pitch.
A number of people rushed on to the pitch to help, with Aoibheann said to have started breathing again after several minutes of chest compressions.
The talented youngster played for a Gaelic Athletic Association team and a football side(Image: Declan Clarke/Facebook)
Her dad had been officiating as linesman during the game, reported Irish national broadcaster RTE.
Paramedics, police , fire crews, and an air ambulance all attended the scene.
The game was abandoned and her teammates at Taghmon Camross Gaelic football team stayed back at the club to wait for further news, before coaches told them she had died in hospital.
She was not known to have any underlying health conditions.
In a statement, her club Taghmon Camross said: "At this incredibly difficult time, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to everyone who responded so quickly and compassionately to the emergency.
"Our heartfelt thanks go to the spectators who assisted, the first responders, the ambulance service, garda and the fire crew for their professionalism, care, and support.
"Our thoughts and prayers remain with our player's family, friends, teammates, coaches, and all who knew and loved her. We ask that everyone respects the family's privacy as they grieve this devastating loss.
Aoibheann was also a talented footballer, and played for All Blacks AFC and Wexford FC.
A few weeks before she died, she had helped Wexford FC to victory in the Football Association of Ireland's Women's U19 Inter-League title.