A gaelic football loving 11-year-old from Down died just 24 hours after feeling too ill to play for his football team.

Liatroim Fontenoys GAC formed a guard of honour along with Rathfriland FC Youth and pupils of St Mary's Primary School at the funeral of tragic Stephen McElroy from Ballyward near Castlewellan, Co Down this morning.

The Irish News reports that Stephen was at school last Friday and appeared fit and well but his parents Pattie and Paul McElroy took him to Daisy Hill Hospital on Saturday night after he felt 'sore and unwell' during Saturday.

He was later allowed to return home but continued to feel unwell on Sunday and was rushed to hospital again by his parents where he collapsed.

Despite the best efforts of medical personnel, he died a short time later and the cause of death is still unclear.

Parish priest Fr Peter O'Neill said: "He was a fantastic young man, full of life and energy in his eyes, but a calm person.

"He did his job as an altar server with no fuss and he loved, loved, loved sport. He would play both Gaelic and football on the same day."

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