DUBLIN DEFENDER JONNY Cooper has described his last 12 months as ‘a personal journey’ after recovering from a vicious knife attack to ultimately capture his second All-Ireland winners’ medal.
The 25-year old was stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and shoulders in late September, 2014 while walking home along Dublin’s Dorset Street from a night out.
RTE’s Crimecall TV programme highlighted the incident at the time though refused to show CCTV footage as it was deemed ‘very distressing to watch’.
Cooper said he initially questioned if he would be able to play football again following the unprovoked assault and robbery, though thankfully made a quick recovery.
He bounced back to enjoy his best season yet in 2015, starting all of Dublin’s Championship games and earning an AllStar nomination.
But he admitted that he was forced to embrace various truths about himself too and acknowledged that he’d taken much of the good things in his life for granted up to then.
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“I suppose I took football and a lot of things for granted up to that period,” said Cooper. “When something like that happens, it rechecks you and refocuses you and brings your feet back on the ground because there mightn’t be these opportunities again.
“Now as it turned out, there has been (more opportunities). But that bit of a personal journey was something I did have to go on at the start. Then obviously getting back into the team environment, your own personal situation and ego goes out the window.
“All the energy goes into the team again and I was kind of glad for that to come back around in January or the end of December as it did.”
Cooper has enjoyed an excellent year with the Dubs. Cathal Noonan / INPHO
Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
A 31-year old was charged with assault causing harm to Na Fianna club man Cooper though the player revealed that he has never received any apology and simply ‘left it all to the authorities’ to deal with.
Best known as a powerful corner-back, Cooper said that he initially wondered if he’d play football again when the incident occurred.
“Initially, one of the things that comes into your head is will you be able to represent (teams) and pull on a pair of boots and things like that again?” said Cooper.
“I was quite lucky from that point of view that everything I got was superficial and just needed a bit of time.
“So I was extremely lucky from that point of view. There were no doubts really once they told me I’d be fine, there were definitely no doubts then. It was actually something I used more to drive me on than anything else.”
Cooper said he has no problem discussing the violent ordeal as it may convince others not to walk home alone after nights out like he did on that occasion.
“I am very open about it,” he said. “It is a nasty enough situation to be talking openly about to younger people but certainly if anyone got something from it at the time or since, parents, kids or families who would be going out, if they’ve got something from it and used me as an example, then I am happy to talk about it.
“But it is not something I’m pushing on people either if they don’t want to talk about it.”
Dublin footballers Paddy Andrews, Jonny Cooper, Michael Darragh MacAuley and John Small were in SuperValu, Knocklyon yesterday to launch SuperValu’s new car and home insurance offering in association with AIG. Customers looking to purchase SuperValu Home, Car or Travel Insurance will be able to buy it online at www.supervalu.ie/insurance or by calling 1890 719 425.
'I was extremely lucky' - Dublin star Cooper feared for his career after vicious knife attack
DUBLIN DEFENDER JONNY Cooper has described his last 12 months as ‘a personal journey’ after recovering from a vicious knife attack to ultimately capture his second All-Ireland winners’ medal.
The 25-year old was stabbed multiple times in the head, neck and shoulders in late September, 2014 while walking home along Dublin’s Dorset Street from a night out.
RTE’s Crimecall TV programme highlighted the incident at the time though refused to show CCTV footage as it was deemed ‘very distressing to watch’.
Cooper said he initially questioned if he would be able to play football again following the unprovoked assault and robbery, though thankfully made a quick recovery.
He bounced back to enjoy his best season yet in 2015, starting all of Dublin’s Championship games and earning an AllStar nomination.
But he admitted that he was forced to embrace various truths about himself too and acknowledged that he’d taken much of the good things in his life for granted up to then.
“I suppose I took football and a lot of things for granted up to that period,” said Cooper. “When something like that happens, it rechecks you and refocuses you and brings your feet back on the ground because there mightn’t be these opportunities again.
“Now as it turned out, there has been (more opportunities). But that bit of a personal journey was something I did have to go on at the start. Then obviously getting back into the team environment, your own personal situation and ego goes out the window.
“All the energy goes into the team again and I was kind of glad for that to come back around in January or the end of December as it did.”
A 31-year old was charged with assault causing harm to Na Fianna club man Cooper though the player revealed that he has never received any apology and simply ‘left it all to the authorities’ to deal with.
Best known as a powerful corner-back, Cooper said that he initially wondered if he’d play football again when the incident occurred.
“Initially, one of the things that comes into your head is will you be able to represent (teams) and pull on a pair of boots and things like that again?” said Cooper.
“I was quite lucky from that point of view that everything I got was superficial and just needed a bit of time.
“So I was extremely lucky from that point of view. There were no doubts really once they told me I’d be fine, there were definitely no doubts then. It was actually something I used more to drive me on than anything else.”
Cooper said he has no problem discussing the violent ordeal as it may convince others not to walk home alone after nights out like he did on that occasion.
“I am very open about it,” he said. “It is a nasty enough situation to be talking openly about to younger people but certainly if anyone got something from it at the time or since, parents, kids or families who would be going out, if they’ve got something from it and used me as an example, then I am happy to talk about it.
“But it is not something I’m pushing on people either if they don’t want to talk about it.”
Dublin footballers Paddy Andrews, Jonny Cooper, Michael Darragh MacAuley and John Small were in SuperValu, Knocklyon yesterday to launch SuperValu’s new car and home insurance offering in association with AIG. Customers looking to purchase SuperValu Home, Car or Travel Insurance will be able to buy it online at www.supervalu.ie/insurance or by calling 1890 719 425.
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