Croke Park | July 21, 2025 — Tipperary captain Ronan Maher delivered a stirring tribute to the late Dillon Quirke during his victory speech, following Tipperary’s emphatic win over Cork in the All-Ireland Hurling Championship Final.
In one of the most dramatic turnarounds in final history, Tipperary overcame a six-point halftime deficit to restrict Cork to just two points in the second half, ultimately sealing a commanding 15-point victory. The triumph marks Tipp’s first All-Ireland title in six years and their 29th overall.
As jubilant scenes unfolded at Croke Park, Maher accepted the Liam MacCarthy Cup from GAA President Jarlath Burns. Amid the celebrations, his thoughts turned to a former teammate no longer present on the field — but very much in spirit.
“You Were in Our Hearts”: Tribute to Dillon Quirke
After acknowledging his teammates, Cork’s valiant effort, and the Croke Park staff, Maher paused to remember Dillon Quirke, the former Tipperary star who tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 24 during a club match, following a sudden cardiac arrest linked to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS).
"To one player who is no longer with us but is so much a part of what we are — Dillon Quirke..." Maher said, as a wave of applause echoed through the stadium.
"We carried your spirit with us every step of the way. You were in the dressing room, you were on the field of play, you were in our hearts, and we hope that we did you and your family proud today."
Tipperary manager Liam Cahill was visibly emotional during the tribute, moved to tears as Maher spoke.
A Legacy That Lives On
Former Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, speaking on RTÉ, also paid tribute to Quirke, saying, “I hope Dillon is up in a corporate box above, looking down on his teammates with pride.”
Since Quirke’s passing, the Dillon Quirke Foundation has become a vital force in promoting cardiac health awareness. By the end of 2024, the foundation had facilitated over 10,000 heart screenings across Ireland, helping to save lives and raise awareness of SADS among young athletes.
As Tipperary celebrated their hard-earned glory, the memory of Dillon Quirke remained deeply woven into the fabric of the team’s journey — a poignant reminder of the enduring power of sport, legacy, and brotherhood.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.