CIARÁN SHEEHAN SAYS he was ‘excited’ to make a first appearance for Carlton Blues for the first time since 2014 following an extensive injury lay-off.
The Cork man was initially sidelined with hip issues which required surgery, and his comeback was further complicated by hamstring and knee injuries.
During the 2017 pre-season, Sheehan lined out for the Northern Blues, the Victorian Football League (VFL) team that are an affiliate of his AFL club Carlton.
Some impressive performances later resulted in him making a return to the Carlton team this weekend, in which he featured in a 12-point defeat to Adelaide.
While Sheehan was disappointed with the result, he was also relieved to get back on the pitch from the interchange bench.
Speaking to the official club website, Sheehan said:
“I was excited to get out there, it’s been a long time coming. I worked pretty hard with all the coaching staff and, the physio staff and the high performance staff.
“I got my body to where it needed to be and I’m just very grateful to get the opportunity to go out and play with the lads.
“(It was a) disappointing result but we’ll have a look, analyse and see where it goes.”
Remarking on his injury struggles, Sheehan said they were “quite frustrating” and that the delay in making a full recovery was caused by a “knock-on effect” of the various problems.
He added that he endured some difficult moments along the way, but was determined to make a full return to the AFL.
I had some difficult times. I always say I’m very lucky to have a good support network around me. My girlfriend Amy at home, all the lads inside the club, coaching staff and it’s like a second home to me out here in the footy club.
“I’ve been very fortunate with the people I’ve met, they’ve got me through some very difficult times.
“I always wanted to be back playing AFL, that was always the goal so I had my mind on that. Lucky enough I got the opportunity today.
“The club is in a really good place and I always wanted to be a part of where the club is going and hopefully I can stick around and see where it does go.
“I know this club is capable of getting to the highest level.”
The42 is on Instagram! Tap the button below on your phone to follow us!
I thought Barcelona are over a billion in debt & now they are spending €1.5 billion on their stadium and they also want to buy Mohammed Salah?
Wha?
@O’Brien Michael: I’ve come to learn that when rich people and teams are in debt it’s not the same as us being in debt. They can always find someone else to lend them more
@O’Brien Michael: They have signed a huge sponsorship deal with Spotify including the naming rights to the Camp Nou. Once they satisfy the Spanish league funding requirements they can sign who they want.
Woe and betide any financial institution that try to foreclose on Barca
@thomas walsh: yes but surely someone at some stage is going to have to say enough is enough.
We are not even talking about being millions in debt we are talking billions now.
Barcelona just defy belief what they are at.
@Diarmuid: how much is the sponsorship deal worth Diarmuid?
@Diarmuid: did the tour of the nou camp about 7-8 years back,cost about 15 euros each at the time. Place was full of people,bus’s and bus’s everywhere.Think it costs about 60 now to do the tour won’t get as many doing it.
@O’Brien Michael: if memory serves me think it’s worth around €300 million over 4 years
@Joe Gorham: Joe I done the tour in summer 2019. Think it was around €30 each well worth. €60 certainly seems a huge increase.
@O’Brien Michael: This is an infrastructural project and the loans will be separate to the current debt to be paid back over 35 years. The idea is that the extra income from the expansion and upgrade will pay off the construction loans.
It’s also not just the stadium. There will also be a new Blaugrana indoor arena, offices, a hotel and a new museum.
@Diarmuid: it does lad I work with just back from Barcelona and he said it’s too dear now to do unless your a barca fan.
Ed Sheeran playing a heap of gigs
Cork county board are project managing the build. Should only cost about 3 Billion
accbank still handing out loans