IT’S SAD TO think that this summer’s championship won’t feature the magic of Colm Cooper – but he’s not the only one we’re losing out on through injury.
We had a look at nine GAA stars who will be sorely missed by their counties during the summer, and while some might recover in time it’s hard to see given the serious nature of some of the injuries.
Oh and there’s one particular injury that’s really standing out. Can anyone guess?
Colm Cooper – Kerry
‘Gooch’ injured his cruciate ligament in the All-Ireland club semi-final against Castlebar in Portlaoise. The 30 year-old will miss the remainder of the 2014 season and it’ll be very interesting to see how Kerry cope without their talisman.
Ciaran Kilkenny – Dublin
Kilkenny is arguably the country’s most talented youngster, at just 20 years of age let’s hope that we’ll have many more summers of watching the 2012 ‘Cadburys Hero of the Future’ ahead of us as he recovers from his cruciate injury.
Kevin O’Brien – Dublin
O’Brien will pair up with Kilkenny on the Dublin treatment table this summer, after he too injured his ACL, playing for DIT in the Sigerson Cup quarter final.
Eamon Wallace – Meath
Yet another youngster to be struck by the cruciate curse this year, Wallace did the damage to his knee in this year’s U21 championship against Louth. He was the third high profile player to suffer the injury last March.
Tomas Waters – Wexford
The Wexford hurler endured five operations and 48 days in hospital after suffering a career threatening leg injury in an All-Ireland qualifier game against Clare last July.
The teak-tough full back is still recovering from the ‘clean break’ and ended his daily dose of antibiotics in late February.
Cathal Carolan – Mayo
Carolan was close to breaking into James Horan’s starting fifteen, having featured in the first four league games of the year, before he too damaged his cruciate in a training session in March.
Aidan Forker – Armagh
Forker sustained medial ligament, cruciate ligament and cartilage damage during a league meeting with Louth in February.
Philip Mahony – Waterford
Mahony ended his season after turning awkwardly in a club championship game earlier in the month – he since underwent surgery on a double leg fracture and dislocated ankle. He had been one of Waterford’s key players in the league, having been away travelling for much of last season.
Michael Meehan – Galway
At 29 years of age, injury has ruled Michael Meehan not only out of this summer’s championship but cast doubt over his future career prospects.
Meehan broke on to the scene in 2002 with St Jarlath’s College, and went on to win three Connacht championship titles. His latest injury setback, an ongoing issue with his ankle, could prove one injury too far for one of the most gifted forwards of his generation.
What other injured players will you miss seeing in action this summer?
