Concussion victim Kevin Downes says it was “blatantly obvious” Lee Keegan should have been substituted

Lots of people have an opinion on concussion but they are not all equal.

Kevin Downes missed Na Piarsaigh’s AIB Munster club hurling final triumph over Ballygunner late last year after suffering a blow to the head in the semi-final win over Thurles Sarsfields.

So, with the debate over Lee Keegan’s delayed substitution in Cork on Sunday still raging, the Limerick forward was well placed to give his assessment.

He didn’t mince his words.

“Mayo came out and said he should have come off – and he should have. It was blatantly obvious he should have come off. Everyone is getting more aware of it now. It is a serious injury.”

“To give credit to Dave Boylan, the club doctor, he’s straight down the middle with these things. I don’t think he would have put me on if I was in that state.

 

“Concussion is tough to define. Okay, I knew I was after getting a bang on the head – I was feeling blurred, dizzy. But it’s very hard to say, ‘Yes, you are clinically concussed’. If it’s blatantly obvious, there is a fair old chance you have it.”

“If you were looking at the television, it’s very hard to focus your eyes. Blurred vision. You don’t feel well at all… dizzy. Getting pale. Fatigue sets in. You’re straining your eyes. Any movement effects you.

 

“Apart from the medical side of things, playing a game of hurling wouldn’t be ideal with the ball fizzing around.”