GARDAÍ are hunting for a number of teenagers linked to the murder of 20-year-old student Cameron Blair.

Cameron, from Ballinascarthy in West Cork, died after being stabbed in the neck during an incident at a house on Bandon Road in Cork city.

A party had been taking place at the house at the time.

Mr Blair, who has been remembered as a popular student and a great athlete and rugby player, collapsed on the street shortly after being stabbed.

Superintendent Michael Comyns said searches have been carried out in the undergrowth of a cliff face in the O'Donovan Rossa Road and Connaught Avenue area, for weapons and for traces of anyone having gone through the areas.

He urged anyone with video footage from the scene to give it to gardaí and not to share it on social media.

Cameron was a student at Cork Institute of Technology.

President of CIT's students' union, Aaron Buckley, said: "He was always smiling and always a great person to be around."

Cameron was also remembered for his “boyish smile and joy of life” which left an indelible mark on anyone he met, or any team he played on.

President of Bandon Rugby Club, Dan Murphy, said club members learned with great sadness of the murder.

He said: “Such a tragedy will be felt far and wide but will be felt really deeply within our club where Cameron was a very popular member and current player.

“Cameron’s boyish smile and joy of life left a real indelible mark on anyone he met or any team he played on. He played as he spoke, full of confidence, and was a delight to see running at full tilt with a rugby ball.”

In September 2015, Cameron was selected to be the flag bearer when Ireland played Italy in the Rugby World Cup.

The chemical engineering student had been due to line out with Bandon's second team in a league game tonight.

CIT’s president, Dr Barry O’Connor, said the young man was a valued member of the institute’s community.

“The entire CIT community is in shock at the untimely death of one of our students, and in such dreadful circumstances. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to the family and friends of the deceased who was a valued member of our CIT community,” he said.

His death was also acknowledged at UCC, where the university’s flag was flown at half-mast yesterday as a mark of respect.

Bishop of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross, Dr Paul Colton, paid a heartfelt tribute.

Bishop Colton had confirmed Cameron in 2013 at St Peter’s Church in Bandon.

In a statement, he said: “As news was breaking on Thursday night of a stabbing incident on Bandon Road, a short distance from my own home in Cork, I tweeted my message of horror and sent my heartfelt thoughts and prayers to the young man, his family and friends.

“I now know, that he was Cameron Blair, a young person from this Church of Ireland Diocese, who attended Bandon Grammar School, and who was confirmed by me in 2013 in Saint Peter’s Church, Bandon.

“He was well known in his local community, including as a rugby player and athlete. My wife Susan and I share the shock of everyone who lives in this neighbourhood, particularly the student community who are so much at the heart of this area.

“Having had student children myself, I know well that a calamity such as this on a night out is every parent’s worst nightmare.

“My heart goes out to the Blair family, especially Cameron’s parents Noel and Cathy, and his brother Alan; as well as to Cameron’s wide circle of friends and peers, and indeed everyone who has been traumatised by what happened on the Bandon Road last night.

“I know everyone in Cork and further afield is terribly shocked by Cameron’s death.”

A service of remembrance was held in Bandon today.

Ian Coombes, his former school principal at Bandon Grammar, said: “Cameron has touched the lives of so many in this school, Hamilton High School, Bandon rugby and athletics clubs, garnering a wide circle of friends.

“Our thoughts are with his family and close friends at this most traumatic time.”

The Garda probe was upgraded to a murder investigation tonight, following the completion of a postmortem examination by locum State pathologist, Dr Heidi Okkers.

Gardaí were carrying out searches and house-to-house enquiries and checking CCTV, on the city’s southside in a bid to catch his killer.