Corks Colm O'Neill unlikely to come back after third cruciate injury

Wildweasel74 · March 19, 2013, 06:01:20 PM

Cork forward Colm O'Neill is unlikely to play football again in 2013 after it was confirmed that he suffered damage to his cruciate ligament during Saturday night's victory over Donegal. The news is a huge blow to O'Neill - it is the third cruciate injury he has suffered. He first injured his knee while playing for for his club Ballyclough in 2008 and again in 2011 while playing for Cork against Galway.
Last season he won his first All-Star after a superb season in which he made a full recovery from the injury suffered the previous year. An excellent finish from Cork on Saturday night saw them overcome Donegal on a 0-12 to 0-10 scoreline at Páirc Uí Rinn. O'Neill had scored two of his side's four points when he was stretchered off early on in the game. In a statement, the Cork County Board said: "The news of this third cruciate injury comes as a huge disappointment to Colm himself, to the Cork team and management and to his club.

macdanger2 · March 19, 2013, 06:04:39 PM

Big loss to the GAA and Cork.

Best of luck to him in recovery though, must be a sickener for him

Jinxy · March 19, 2013, 06:06:12 PM

Don't think I've ever heard of someone doing the same knee 3 times.
Certainly not at such a young age anyway.
Time is on his side though and I wish him all the best.
Must be soul-destroying facing into another surgery/rehab cycle.

Wildweasel74 · March 19, 2013, 06:07:13 PM

had the makings of a very good player

J70 · March 19, 2013, 06:09:27 PM

Thread title is misleading... I thought his career was over, whereas he's just out for the season. Which is rough enough, but nowhere near being told he's done for good.

Good luck to him. Classy player! Huge loss for Cork, although not as bad as it might be for most other counties.

Syferus · March 19, 2013, 06:11:36 PM

Read title as never coming back and that's always the fear with repeated injuries to such a sensitive area.

Don't lose the faith Colm, look at what lads like David Casey went through and know that if you want it enough you'll make it back. Best wishes.

Croí na hÉireann · March 19, 2013, 09:13:11 PM

Thought he had done his cruciate again when I saw the footage and sorry to hear he has. Class player. Someone should send him on the podcast of Jason Ryan and others talking about being in recovery on Off The Ball last week the minute you injure yourself. You need hope when staring down the tracks of another year on the sidelines, particularly for the third time.

Zulu · March 19, 2013, 11:28:34 PM

Quote from: Jinxy on March 19, 2013, 06:06:12 PM
Don't think I've ever heard of someone doing the same knee 3 times.
Certainly not at such a young age anyway.
Time is on his side though and I wish him all the best.
Must be soul-destroying facing into another surgery/rehab cycle.

Pretty sure he has done both knees rather than the same one 3 times.

QuoteGood luck to him. Classy player! Huge loss for Cork, although not as bad as it might be for most other counties.

True enough but I think he is the difference between Cork being a real strong contender for Sam and being a team that will give anyone a real test. With him I think they could take Dublin or Donegal, without I don't think they will. He is right up there with Brogan and Murphy as a go to class forward.

Syferus · March 19, 2013, 11:31:58 PM

I think Cork's window is shutting, whatever about Colm O'Neill if they don't do it this year it's only going to get tougher and tougher for them to win even Munster, it's only a matter of time before Tipp catch one or both of the big two and all hell will break loose when that happens.

rodney trotter · March 19, 2013, 11:36:10 PM

It's a disaster for Cork and obviously O Neill himself.

I think if they had their strongest 15 last year, they would have beaten Donegal IMO. Goulding was a huge loss. Now O Neill is crocked again.

lynchbhoy · March 20, 2013, 08:27:38 PM

God love him. Feel so sorry for him.
Hope he can make it back.
He is a fantastic talent and a key player for cork.
I still think they have enough good players to win Sam.

Farrandeelin · March 20, 2013, 09:02:25 PM

Hope he makes it back sooner than later. I too think he will impact on Cork's prospects this year when the heat of the battle is on. Best of luck to him. Terrible luck though with the injuries.

orangeman · March 24, 2015, 09:01:15 AM

What a player. He beat Tyrone on his own a few weeks ago and has been one of the best players in the country.

I hope he stays injury free and is rewarded for his efforts to get back on to the pitch.