Limerick hurler Kyle Hayes has been disqualified from driving for two years for dangerous driving on the N20 near Mallow in Co Cork in July.
The 26-year-old conceded in Mallow District Court that he was travelling at 155km/h in a 100km/h zone on the evening of 14 July this year.
Garda Deirdre Barrett gave evidence that she was operating a speed check and recorded Hayes driving a white Audi A6 at high speed, overtaking nine cars on the dual carriageway.
The garda said she activated the sirens of the garda vehicle and when Hayes pulled in, he identified himself as Kyle Hayes of Ballyashea, Kildimo, Co Limerick.
She added he told her that he did not realise he was speeding and that he had "run out of road".
Hayes took to the stand to give evidence in the case. He said he was driving from west Cork at the time and was not familiar with the road.
He said he moved into the right-hand lane to overtake cars and when he realised the overtaking lane was coming to an end, he sped up to get ahead of the other cars.
Hayes's defence barrister, Liam Carroll BL, said his client thought he was taking a safe overtaking manoeuvre, and put it to the court that this was a case of careless driving rather than dangerous driving.
Judge Colm Roberts asked Hayes if he would accept that speed is the number one cause of death on the roads at the moment.
The judge said the case merited a conviction for dangerous driving. He said Hayes may feel that he is being singled out because of who he is, but he said, speed kills and "this was excessive".
He disqualified the 26-year-old from driving for two years and imposed a fine of €250.
Judge Roberts also noted the presence of the media in the courtroom to hear the case.
He said there were more "significant cases" before his court in recent weeks that merited coverage, and the media did not cover those cases.
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