Wexford corner-back James Breen has been released from hospital after a bout of viral meningitis.
Between first coming down with the flu-like symptoms and being admitted to University Waterford Hospital, the Adamstown clubman starred in an All-Ireland Hurling Championship qualifier against Cork.
Breen excelled in his marking job on Cork danger man Alan Cadogan – his performance earning rave reviews before it became common knowledge that he was suffering from a debilitating illness.
SportsJOE understands the Wexford defender is almost certainly going to miss Sunday’s quarter-final clash with Waterford in Thurles, but Breen can be added to a roll call of intercounty stars who played through the pain barrier.
Anthony Tohill
Not one to make a mountain out of a molehill, the Derry legend would play on when his toe’s ill.
Or broken, to be precise.
The midfield colossus, who once had a trial with Manchester United, played against Antrim in a 2007 All-Ireland qualifier despite having a broken toe.
He did however relinquish free-taking duties, which proves the giant was not entirely impervious to pain.
Henry Shefflin
Okay, it didn’t work, but to even give it a go took some serious guts.
When Henry Shefflin crumpled in a heap against Cork in the 2010 All-Ireland hurling semi-final everyone feared the worst. The worst was confirmed when he was diagnosed with a ruptured cruciate ligament. His season over, there was no chance the Kilkenny great would face off against Tipperary in the decider.
Not a bit of it. The Ballyhale man consulted specialist Ger Hartmann, who reckoned they could strengthen the muscles of the knee enough to allow Shefflin to play in the final.
Play he did, although he only lasted 12 minutes as Tipperary ended Kilkenny’s ‘Drive for Five’.
Oisín O’Brien
He didn’t quite make the field of play but it wasn’t for want of trying.
The Clare defender was treated in an Austrian hospital back in May after flying with a punctured lung.
He suffered the injury in the warm-up for the Allianz League final replay with Waterford.
Davy Fitzgerald explaining how he had to convince the Clonalara man he was not fit to face the Déise.
“He was putting on his jersey. There was a bit of panic inside because he couldn’t breathe.
“And being Oisín, he tried to come out on the field and he couldn’t breathe.
“I had to walk him in out of the field that day. He was on his knees inside in the dressing-room. He was taken to hospital in Clonmel.”
Martha Carter
Cora Staunton may have scored 2-14, but it was he Mayo team-mate Carter receiving the plaudits after he heroic performance in the Connacht Final earlier this month.
What did she do? Only played the majority of the game with a broken hand.
“Martha Carter broke her hand in the first ten minutes and that’s character, that’s fight and that’s exactly what you need and that’s what they all gave,” said her manager Frank Browne.
“So we said at half time: when your legs are tired, just look at Martha. Her hand is broken. What you’re doing is only minor.”
Amen.
Seamus Callanan
Tipperary’s talisman showed his mettle in last year’s Munster SHC semi-final – returning to the field after eight minutes of treatment to slot over a late free as the Premier overcame Limerick.
The 27-year-old had a number of his front teeth knocked out following a frontal collision with Limerick goalkeeper Barry Hennessy.
It was a rattler, to be fair.
That he came back on to help seal the win was admirable.
Peter Canavan
The comeback that has gone down in folklore.
Tyrone’s only survivor from their previous All-Ireland final appearance, in 1995, Canavan did not reappear for the second half of the 2003 showdown with Armagh.
While Tyrone led 8-4 at half-time, five of those points came from the boot of ‘Peter the Great’, who had suffered a recurrence of an ankle injury.
During the break and the second half the Errigal Ciarán man received pain-killing injections before making a late cameo to help steady the ship and further increase his already massive stature within the game.
Tadhg Kennelly
Not precisely GAA, but still impressive.
Kerry footballer Kennelly achieved a lot during his time in Australia. An AFL title, a rising star nomination and all sorts of acclaim from media and players like.
It all pales in comparison to his ability to relocate his shoulder during matches. Ouch. But also, cool, like Riggs.
