EXPERIENCED GALWAY MIDFIELDER Paul Conroy has opened up about the devastating injury he sustained in their Super 8s opener, and confirmed that he actually broke both of his legs.
It was confirmed shortly after the Tribesmen’s 1-13 to 1-10 win over Kerry in Croke Park that St James’ star Conroy suffered a horror double leg-break in the first half.
And following surgery on the season-ending injury on his left leg at the Mater Hospital in Dublin, it was discovered that he also had a hairline fracture in his right leg.
“It’s as well it could be at this stage,” he told Galway Bay FM yesterday.
“My left leg, I got a fracture in my left tibia and fibula and there’s also a hairline fracture in my right fibula.
“The right leg isn’t too bad but it’s the left leg really that I needed the surgery on and that’s the one that will take the most time to heal.”
He explained: “On the Wednesday or Thursday, I started trying to go out on crutches with the physio.
“I could feel pain up the side of my right leg and an x-ray showed that it was a hairline fracture. To be honest, the right leg isn’t overly bad. I can still put weight on it and use the crutches, it’s great to be able to do that at least.”
The 29-year-old recalled the moment itself, as he went down following an accidental collision with Kenmare Shamrocks youngster Seán O’Shea.
There was a lengthy delay to play, leaving players, management and fans alike concerned around the ground before Conroy was taken off the field via ambulance truck after receiving treatment from the medical team.
“When it happened, I looked down and knew straight away that there was a lump sticking out in an area where it shouldn’t have been,” he said.
“I tried to get up and I couldn’t. I knew then something wasn’t right.
“It’s just about trying to keep calm in them situations. I was in the Mater Hospital by the time the ball was thrown in for the second half, that shows you how quick they move.
Conroy added: “The recovery has started already.
“The initial couple of days, it’s more mentally challenging more than anything. You just have to accept that you are not going to be playing any more this year. I accepted that fairly early and I’m just keen to get on with what I can do and control now.
He still manages a smile.. Speedy recovery bro @PaulC225 no doubt you'll be back stronger! #gaillimhabú pic.twitter.com/maELoiho2i
— Damien Comer (@DamoComer) July 15, 2018
“I can control my mindset and keep a positive mind.”
He also spoke of the support he’s received from far and wide over the past few weeks, thanking well-wishers for their kind words.
“The amount of messages I would have got over the last couple of weeks. Obviously, you have your family and friends who would always look after you and send you nice messages and things like that.
“But players and managers from other counties have been getting onto me and wishing me well, which is great.
“You wouldn’t think it would help but it does. It’d give you that sense of care, it’s great to see. It’s one massively positive aspect of the GAA.”
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Interesting how everyone writing shamrocks off, all Ireland champs 2 years ago and beaten semi finalists last year. In the year they won it, beat na piarsaigh in the semi so I think they will fancy their chances. Saying that, would love to see na piarsaigh win it
Two very evenly matched semi finals. I’d love to see a Na Piarsaigh v MLR final. Think Na Piarsaigh will win it. Anyone but Portumna. A team who doesn’t have to qualify from its province doesn’t deserve an All Ireland title. Na Piarsaigh and MLR would be more than deserving of winning it considering who they had to beat to get to the semi.
Yeah they only have to qualify out of most competitive county in the country where many of the All Ireland Club Champions have come last 10 years.
Doesn’t matter who they have to beat in the Galway championship. I’m talking about Galway clubs in general.
The exact reason why Galway clubs have a good track record in it is because they walk in to the All Ireland semi finals every year.
Same as minors getting straight through to quarter finals and U21′s getting straight through to All Ireland semi. They all pick up some handy titles and then wonder why the Galway senior team is not successful.
Simple, they have less teams to beat to win All Irelands at every level except senior and they win them at all levels except senior!!!
Sour grapes mike. Portumna one of the best club sides of all time. Going by your logic no team from Galway should be allowed enter the competition.
When portumna were at their best , they would give any of the top team’s in the country a game.
I have nothing to be sour about. Portumna mean nothing to me. I see and hear Galway people moan about their senior team not being able to win anything but they rub their hands with glee when they walk in to the latter stages of most other competitions. It’s more than a coincidence that Galway can win titles at all levels except senior. They have too easy a route in all bar the senior. Galway won’t win a senior All Ireland until they wake up to that fact. They want the senior team in Leinster but are more than happy to have every other grade team and club not as they are winning things. Why don’t they look at the possibility of moving all teams in to Leinster so they can actually see what they are worth and not just be handed byes the whole time while every other team and club have to get through several matches to get to the same stage.
The Galway clubs have to beat provincial and county champs to win an All Ireland Mike, same goes for their minors and U21s, nothing handy about that.
You sound pretty sour to me.
Portumna will win it
Portumna won their titles Mike Neil because they were the best team, to say otherwise is just bloody sour grapes.Same goes for all the clubs who won the All Ireland.
I will be shouting for Portumna but think Na Piarsigh will win out, they have more scoring forwards than anyone else.
It’s not portumna’s fault they go straight into semis. It’s theirs to lose now, should be a handy all-ireland for them now. Although this is a year full of surprises.
Only a fool would write off the Rangers. Have seen off 2 favourites already and didn’t even play well against Outlart.
I know they will still be the underdogs, but they will wear that badge with pride!!!!
Loughgiel shamrocks be very hard to beat they R a good team winning 4 county titles and 4 ustler titles and all Ireland in the last 4 years what more can I say
think you’ll find Eamon that Loughgiel have as good a six forwards as any of the teams left.will take a damned good performance to beat them much better than anything I’ve witnessed on TG4 to date..
I disagree Denis.I have seen Shamrocks 3 times in the last 2 years , they are a fine side but they don’t have forwards of the calibre of Canning, Hayes, Dowling, Hannon or Downes.
Hannon plays for Adare not Na Piarsaigh.
Fair bad support for loughgeil. A club that has been there and done it plus has one of the best hurlers in the country. Would love to see them prove a lot of people wrong again. From a tipp man
As a Birr man, having seen how these All-Ireland’s are won, it’s about getting the most from your forwards. One of the reasons KK did well last year was Slevin the free taker. Similarly Loughgiel have a great full forward, whose name escapes me. Na Piarsaigh have serious forwards and of course Portumna have Joe Canning & Damien Hayes, plus their experience. It’s hard to see past Portumna. Fair play to MLR though – inspirational stuff!