The world of camogie is in mourning after a referee died during an underage game in Cork.

Dominic Rooney died after collapsing during the U16 game between Douglas and Brian Dillons at Douglas Community School this afternoon. Medical personnel attempted to treat the father-of-three using a defibrillator before he was taken to Cork University Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The deceased, who was in his forties and was a native of Newbridge, Co. Kildare, was a sergeant attached to the Engineering Corps at Collins Barracks in Cork and has served with the UN in both Kosovo and the Lebanon.

Cork camogie board chairperson Mary McSweeney said Mr Rooney's death had caused widespread shock.

"We are all absolutely shocked. Dominic was such a gentleman, always respectful and always obliging and he would always salute you and give you a smile going on the pitch," she told the Irish Times.

"Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family this afternoon on such a tragic and terrible loss. To think he went out this morning to referee a camogie match and he isn't coming home to them."

Cork camogie junvenile secretary Tina Sheehan also paid tribute to the popular match official: "The camogie community in Cork is in shock today. Everyone is very upset at what happened and our thoughts are with his family today at this terrible tragedy - it's just unbelievable."

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