Teenage girl who died after falling ill during Louth football match named

On Friday, the North Eastern Football League (NEFL) put a statement on its website in which it said its committee “has called off all NEFL matches scheduled for this weekend including all ladies’ fixtures as a mark of respect due to the untimely passing of Zara Murphy, daughter of Louth Branch secretary Brian Murphy”.

“Our thoughts and prayers go out to her parents Brian & Angela, her brother Ben, her Grandparents, Uncles, Aunties, cousins and all their extended family and friends at this time,” it added.

The LSGL issued a joint statement with the FAI saying: “The Louth School Girls League and the Football Association of Ireland are deeply saddened to learn of the tragic passing of teenager Zara Murphy after she collapsed as she played for Termonfeckin Celtic FC against her former club Glen Magic FC on Thursday evening.”

LSGC has also suspended all football activities until further notice, extending their thoughts and prayers to the girl’s family and friends.

An Garda Síochána confirmed it was informed of the incident involving a teenage girl who became ill during the game.

On Friday night a death notice for the teenager appeared on RIP.ie. 

It said she was the beloved daughter of Angela and Brian and loving sister of Ben. The notice she would be sadly missed by them, a large extended family as well as “her large circle of school friends and team-mates in soccer, Gaelic and gymnastics”.

Zara is to repose at her home on Sunday and Monday evening from 4pm until 8pm.

“The funeral cortege will leave her home on Tuesday morning at 10.30am proceeding on foot via The Glen (Football pitch, Yellowbatter) arriving to Our Lady of Lourdes Church for Funeral Mass at 11.30am.”

She will be buriedafterwards in Newtown Cross Lawns Cemetery.