Hours after the 28-year-old led Garryowen thirds in a match against Shannon, he became a victim of the city's bloody feud in a horrific case of mistaken identity.

The club has been inundated with calls from rugby clubs throughout Limerick expressing their horror and outrage at the murder.

Club chairman, Ger Clarke, described Shane as "the leader of the heart and soul of Garryowen" and said players and club members were in "dreadful shock" and "deeply distressed".

Niall Collins TD, who played rugby with Shane, said the murder was "a complete outrage".

"It was inevitable that it was going to happen in that these crime gangs were knocking each other off but now it has spread to the wider community."

The dedicated rugby supporter watched the Ireland v Canada rugby international while socialising with friends on Saturday night.

He was gunned down when up to 15 bullets were sprayed at him as he walked home through the Kilteragh housing estate in Dooradoyle at 1.30am.

Shane managed to run to the rear of a house in Clonmore before the assassin delivered the fatal gunshot wound to the back of his head.

Members of the recently established Regional Support Unit were the first at the scene after a 999 call was made from concerned residents who heard the sound of gunshots in the early hours of yesterday morning.

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The Limerick Leader has set up on online condolence page for Shane Geoghegan. Friends and family are invited to log on and pay tribute to Shane. The page will be online later today at www.limerickleader.ie