Andrew Duffy, 24, from County Donegal tragically slipped and fell into the Royal Canal on his way home after his home county won an All-Ireland football semi-final on Sunday.

According to BreakingNews.ie, Duffy fell into the water at Binns bridge in the Phibsboro area of north Dublin at around 11.45 PM at night.

A police spokeswoman said that the young man was pulled from the water but was later pronounced dead.

'A man appeared to have fallen into the canal. He was taken to the Mater Hospital where he was pronounced dead,' she said.

Duffy was reportedly a Gaelic football player with Termon GAA team in north Donegal.

Joe McDaid, chairman of the Termon club, said it was a devastating loss for the team, village and county.

It’s just a terrible tragedy for the area and the club to lose a man like Andrew,' he said.

'On behalf of the club, we just want to extend our sympathies to the Duffy family.'

Duffy had earlier watched the match in Croke Park where Donegal beat Cork, securing a coveted place in the All-Ireland final for the first time in 20 years.

'Andrew was just a great, great young fellow, and footballer,' McDaid added. 'He was committed to everything that he did and just an all-round good fellow.'

Jim McDaid, a doctor and former minister from Letterkeny who knows the Duffy family, told Highland Radio that the young man had decided to stay in Dublin for the night after the long sought victory.

'It was a great day for Donegal and young men being young men they decided they were going to stay. “They were on their way home last night when he tripped and fell into the canal. It is a tragedy and my sympathy goes to his family that we know well.'

A post-mortem examination was carried out on Monday before Duffy’s body was returned to Donegal.