Leitrim U21 footballer Alan McTigue is recovering in hospital after his near-death experience yesterday.

The Allen Gaels player spent last night in University College Hospital, Galway after he collapsed on the pitch during yesterday's Hastings Shield semi-final between Leitrim and Roscommon in Rathcline. Medics used a defibrillator on the pitch before Alan was flown by an Air Corp helicopter to hospital.

The Drumshanbo youngster fell ill during the first half of the game which was immediately abandoned with Roscommon leading 0-7 to 0-5.

Leitrim chairman Terence Boyle told Shannonside Radio: "Alan is doing well. I was talking to his father this morning. He's sitting up in the bed and is still being monitored."

Boyle stressed the importance of all GAA clubs having defibrillators on-site.

"Yesterday highlighted the absolute need that defibrillators need to be at all our GAA grounds and that they're checked regularly and in working order and that we have someone on-site that is able to use these machines, because it's a matter of life and death really," he added.

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