THE CURSE OF the cruciate has struck plenty Cork GAA stars in recent times.
Footballer Colm O’Neill is currently recuperating after being struck down for the third time with the dreaded injury while former Rebel hurler Setanta Ó hAilpín is getting set to bounce back after a long layoff.
After nearly 12 months sidelined with the knee injury, Setanta will make his long awaited comeback in the AFL this Sunday. The 29 year-old has been ruled out since rupturing his cruciate last May in a game against his former club Carlton.
He is now set to start for Great Western Sydney Giants at at full-forward against Melbourne at the MCG next Sunday And O’Neill has been amongst those to send best wishes.
Setanta will fill a vacancy that has arisen after his young teammate Jonathon Patton tore his ACL against St Kilda last Sunday.
“I was deeply disappointed when I did my knee,” Ó hAilpín told the club’s website gwsgiants.com. “It was devastating, all you want to do is put your best foot forward and help out these young kids out but it wasn’t to be.
“Now we just need to get behind Jonny. I really feel for him, I had twelve months on the side lines. It’s a long and tough road but we’ve got good strength and conditioning staff here and I have no doubt that he will come back as a stronger and better person.
“It will make him as a player because you don’t really know yourself until you get a long term injury.”
GWS Giants coach Kevin Sheedy said that he was thrilled to see Setanta returning.
“He turned up for an hour last year… then did a knee,” Sheedy said. “Obviously losing Jonny Patton is a bit of a blow for us but Setanta deserves this opportunity after kicking five goals last week. Getting an experienced player in is a bonus for us as well. ”
