SHANE WALSH WAS in contact with Paul Conroy yesterday morning.
He wanted to check in on his progress as the Galway midfield stalwart begins his arduous recovery from the double leg break he suffered on Sunday against Kerry.
Conroy was wheeled off in the first half in Croke Park after suffering the severe injury and will have to watch on for the remainder of Galway’s 2018 campaign.
Walsh knows they will miss his services on the pitch but feels the experienced figure, who joined the Galway senior setup after captaining the county to 2007 All-Ireland minor glory, will continue to play an important role in their squad for the rest of the season.
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“I keep on slagging him, he was doped up on morphine. He’s coming around but obviously it’s a difficult time for him because we’re in the business end of the championship and he would like to be heavily involved.
“Your heart can’t but go out to him because you know how much he’s put into the training, one of the most dedicated lads over the last 10-12 years with Galway.
“It’s unfortunate, he’s probably had that kind of year that not too many players would want to have in that he picked up that injury against Mayo, he’d a bit of an ankle injury against Sligo.
“He hadn’t much football played coming into the Connacht final and then the game the last day, he was probably showing form again and that happens. It’s highly unfortunate.
“He’s a leader in the dressing-room and no doubt he’s a big voice as well for us as a team because he’s an experienced player in the group so he’ll be looking to bring that on, add on his bits of advice and bits of encouragement to us.
“It’s an awful thing to happen to him but I know he’ll have a big impact on us going forward off the pitch.”
Shane Walsh was voted the PwC GAA/GPA Player of the Month Award winner for June. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE
Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE
Conroy is the latest Galway midfielder to succumb to injury with Ciaran Duggan, man-of-the-match in the opening victory in Connacht against Mayo, also out injured at present due to a broken wrist.
But Walsh is confident that they can cope and points to the return of 2013 All-Ireland U21 winning captain Fiontán Ó Curraoin as a boost to their prospects in that sector.
“Not every team has a player like Paul Conroy. He brings a huge asset to the team as well. We have the players there, it’s great to have the strength in depth there, you’re still missing Paul Conroy in your team but it’s great we have the likes of Peter Cooke, Cein D’Arcy is in the panel.
“Fiontán Ó Curraoin, he actually had the exact same injury that Paul had but they’re on two different ends to it. Paul’s starting his rehabilitation whereas Fiontán has just finished his.
“You’ve a player like Fiontán Ó Curraoin to come back into your team at this stage of the year, so it’s great to have that kind of player there.
“Especially Fiontán probably epitomises old head on young shoulders, he’s an experienced head there, he’s been around the block as well so it’s great to have him back in training.”
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'It's an awful thing to happen to him but I know he'll have a big impact on us going forward off the pitch'
SHANE WALSH WAS in contact with Paul Conroy yesterday morning.
He wanted to check in on his progress as the Galway midfield stalwart begins his arduous recovery from the double leg break he suffered on Sunday against Kerry.
Conroy was wheeled off in the first half in Croke Park after suffering the severe injury and will have to watch on for the remainder of Galway’s 2018 campaign.
Walsh knows they will miss his services on the pitch but feels the experienced figure, who joined the Galway senior setup after captaining the county to 2007 All-Ireland minor glory, will continue to play an important role in their squad for the rest of the season.
“I keep on slagging him, he was doped up on morphine. He’s coming around but obviously it’s a difficult time for him because we’re in the business end of the championship and he would like to be heavily involved.
“Your heart can’t but go out to him because you know how much he’s put into the training, one of the most dedicated lads over the last 10-12 years with Galway.
“It’s unfortunate, he’s probably had that kind of year that not too many players would want to have in that he picked up that injury against Mayo, he’d a bit of an ankle injury against Sligo.
“He hadn’t much football played coming into the Connacht final and then the game the last day, he was probably showing form again and that happens. It’s highly unfortunate.
“He’s a leader in the dressing-room and no doubt he’s a big voice as well for us as a team because he’s an experienced player in the group so he’ll be looking to bring that on, add on his bits of advice and bits of encouragement to us.
“It’s an awful thing to happen to him but I know he’ll have a big impact on us going forward off the pitch.”
Conroy is the latest Galway midfielder to succumb to injury with Ciaran Duggan, man-of-the-match in the opening victory in Connacht against Mayo, also out injured at present due to a broken wrist.
But Walsh is confident that they can cope and points to the return of 2013 All-Ireland U21 winning captain Fiontán Ó Curraoin as a boost to their prospects in that sector.
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GAA Injury Knockout Paul Conroy Shane Walsh Galway