Brian McGuigans Bad Luck

[ziggysego]

I think it's got to the point now where I say I hope Brian makes a full recovery, even if that means he doesn't play inter-county football again. He's been getting too many serious knocks lately. His safety and health is my over-riding concern.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Fingers crossed for Brian, sounds like the next few weeks will be critical for his eye, best to him. 

[TheHeckler]

From BBC

Dad worried about McGuigan injury

The father of Tyrone's Brian McGuigan fears his son might never play again because of a serious eye injury.
Frank McGuigan, a former Tyrone player and All Star, has revealed that Brian is facing further specialist surgery to repair damage to his eye.
The Ardboe forward has had two recent operations on an eye that was severely damaged in a reserve club game in May.
"Having spoken at some length with his consultant, my personal fear is that he may never play again," said Frank.
"My son went through an operation on Wednesday afternoon in the Royal Victoria Hospital and had to lie on is side from then until Thursday morning.
"He then returned home but has still had to lie on his side until Tuesday of this week."
Brian McGuigan had recovered from a broken leg sustained more than a year ago when he suffered a setback with a related ankle injury.
It was while making a recovery from the ankle problem that he turned out for his club in a reserve league game against Aghyaran in an effort to get some match time under his belt.

Apparently Frank has sent an open letter to a Tyrone paper on this matter, criticising the media at length, anyone see it?

I haven't seen the Tyrone Times, but the Irish Star had this story today:

"My Brian May Never Play Again"

Tyrone Legend Frank McGuigan has revelaed his fears that son Brian may never play football again.

Brian was forced to lie still in his bed for almost a week after the latest in a series of operations aimed at repairing a detached retina and saving the sight in his left eye.

Luckless Red Hand star McGuigan watched last Sunday's Ulster semi-final win over Donegal from his bed.  He sustained the injury in a club reserve game last month against Aghyaran, as he continued his comeback from a horrific broken leg.

Frank wrote an open letter to a local newspaper this week to clear up misinformation about his son's state.  "My son went through an operation last Wednesday and had to lie on his side until Thursday, when he had a follow-up operation", wrote Frank.  "He then returned home but has still had to lie on his side until Tuesday of this week at least.  "Having spoken at some length with his consultant, my personal fear is that he may never play football again", contiuned the letter in the 'Tyrone Times'.

McGuigan went on to slam a story which stated that his son could return in time for the Ulster Final.  "That puts into perspective the ridiculous story which appeared a couple of weeks ago in some newspapers, on teletext and websites, which suggested that Brian might return in time for the Ulster Final, should Tyrone make it there", he said.   "The author did not get that information from anyone who has anything to do with Brian and we were far from happy at its appearance."

Frank has been critical of the Aghyaran club for their lack of interest in Brian since the injury occurred.  It has never been revealed how the injury actually happened.

"Initially Brian was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital and, after some emergency treatment, he was home for a few days before going to the Royal Victoria, where they worked to try and put the retina back," the letter continued.  "The Consultant explained that it was being held together by two wee bits at 12 o'clock and six o'clock positions.  On Wednesday they inserted a 'bubble' to try and move everything back into its proper place - a very painful process as it was only under local anaesthetic".

Frank revealed that his son's primary concern is that his sight returns in his left eye.  "As for the future, Brian hasn't mentioned playing football, which was all he talked about when it was his leg or ankle that was injured.  Now he's only concerned about getting the sight back in his eye".

- Karl O'Kane, The Irish Star


Dear help him.  I knew it was bad, but I didn't realise it was that bad.  This story puts things into perspective - really your health is the most important thing.  Brian McGuigan is without doubt one of the most talented footballers ever seen in this country, and he has been badly missed.  I hope to God he gets some good luck now, after all the bad luck he has had to endure in recent years.  I wish him a speedy recovery - hopefully we will see him play again soon.

[Puckoon]

Just  wondering, what actually happened in the game that caused such a serious injury? Not that it makes any difference. Tyrone have had too many freakish yet disasterous (im struggling for the correct words here) things happen going back as far as the late paul mcgirr, through cormac mcanallens untimely death and the loss of brothers and sisters of panel members through accidents. While we all want to see brian back in the colours of ardboe and tyrone, i wouldnt blame him if he just wants to be able to live a normal life for a while, without the constant misery of injury, finances and speculation. Games are second fiddle to the health and welfare of every member of the tyrone panel.

[Gabriel_Hurl]

End of road for Brian?


By Kevin Hughes
AS his Tyrone team-mates coasted impressively through to the Ulster Final on Sunday, Brian McGuigan watched from his bed, the luckless Ardboe ace forced to lie still for almost a week after the latest in a series of operations as top surgeons bid to save the sight in his left eye, writes Kevin Hughes.
McGuigan, who in terms of injury is arguably the unluckiest player in top flight football this millennium, is recuperating from his double-operation last week as his consultant tried to attach the retina, endeavouring to keep his head perfectly still a key part of what is evidently a very tricky procedure.
But these are just the latest operations McGuigan has had to endure since he suffered horrific injuries to his head, and specifically the eye, as he lined out for his Ardboe O'Donovan Rossas club in a reserve league match against Aghyaran St.Davogs in the middle of last month at the north Tyrone venue.
Ironically, it has never been revealed how the injury happened. But McGuigan's father has been openly critical of the Aghyaran club for their lack of interest in the player's well-being since the incident happened in the opening minutes of the match.
A couple of weeks ago in a letter to this newspaper, former county star Frank Snr expressed his disappointment at the failure of the club to enquire as to his welfare. And, in another letter on page 55 of this issue, he is again critical of the north Tyrone club's attitude.
But the main purpose of the letter was to inform the public as to the ongoing fight to save his son's sight. Whether he will ever play football again is not the primary concern at this juncture.
"My son went through an operation on Wednesday afternoon in the Royal Victoria Hospital and had to lie on his side from then until Thursday morning, when he had a follow-up operation. He then returned home but has still had to lie on his side until Tuesday of this week at least.
"Having spoken at some length with his consultant, my personal fear is that he may never play football again.
"That puts into perspective the ridiculous story which appeared a couple of weeks ago in some newspapers, on ceefax and websites, which suggested he might return in time for the Ulster Final, should Tyrone make it there.
"The author did not get that information from anyone who has anything to do with Brian and we were far from happy at its appearance as it totally misrepresented his current situation" added McGuigan Snr.
Brian, who has previously sustained serious knee and shoulder injuries, was out for a year with a double fracture of the leg and was just back when he had his ankle badly damaged. It was during his attempted comeback game after this that he was the victim of the collision which has him now fighting valiantly for the sight in his left eye.
emergency
"Initially he was taken to Altnagelvin Hospital and, after some emergency treatment, he was home for a few days before going to the Royal where they did come work to try and put the retina back, the consultant explaining that it was being held together by two wee bits at 12 o'clock and six o'clock positions.
"On Wednesday they inserted a 'bubble' to try and move everything back into its proper place - a very painful process as it was only
under local anaesthetic.
"There are other operations to come, but so far the medical experts seem to be relatively pleased with how things have been going, I'm glad to say.
"Lying on his side for five or six days is all part and parcel of the procedure - and it's not something easily done.
"As for the future, Brian thus far hasn't mentioned playing football, which was all he talked about when it was his leg or ankle that was damaged. Now he's just concerned only about getting the sight back in his eye.
"Personally, I'm pessimistic about whether he will ever kick a ball again. But I'm not really worried about that.
"Brian was still with his team-mates in spirit, however, as they amazingly overwhelmed Donegal - even though he had to watch on a television positioned at floor level" added big Frank.
I'm sure I speak for all sports people in wishing Brian good luck for his future.
Last Updated: 19 June 2007

[muppet]

On Wednesday they inserted a 'bubble' to try and move everything back into its proper place - a very painful process as it was only under local anaesthetic".

I could not imagine sitting fully conscious while someone stuck something into my eye. As someone said above hopefully he makes a full recovery, football can take a back seat when it comes to something like this.

[twotwocharlie]

let's wait on the medical opinon

[An Gaeilgoir]

There was a chat with the journalist who drafted the letter on Newstalk there now...Christ ive never heard anything like it,the injury was the worst the eye consultant in Belfast has ever seen..thats saying something. His retina was hanging on at the top ond the bottom by two sinues...they put 8 stiches around Brian's retina and then they had to blow the retina up to give it shape. He has been lying on his side unable to move since the operation and according to the journalist its still touch and go if his sight will return. According to the interview this was a deliberate tackle against Brian..well if this true the other person involved deserves jail! end of

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

Aghyaran's silence on this issue is most curious, to say the least. Common courtesy would dictate that any player would be asked after by the club against whom he/she was playing when seriously injured. That the injured in this case is a player who brought so much to every club in the county makes it all the more incomprehensible.

[ONeill]

I think that's a dangerous route to go down, i.e. baying for blood from the other club involved. I'm sure the actual injury was unintentional though maybe the tackle wasn't. There are plenty of illegal tackles in every game and from what I've heard the consequence of the tackle was not instantly predicted or imagined at the time.

What is happening now to Brian is ultimately heart-breaking. Unimaginable. That's the priority right now.

[ziggysego]

I agree with O'Neill on this one, this should become a blame game. Brian's return to full health is the main concern.

From all accounts, the tackle was intentional, but the result of it.... wasn't.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

It's neither baying for blood nor playing a blame-game lads. Like I said t'would be common courtesy, nothing more or less, and would not imply guilt or otherwise. 

[ONeill]

It's neither baying for blood nor playing a blame-game lads. Like I said t'would be common courtesy, nothing more or less, and would not imply guilt or otherwise. 

Sorry, didn't make it clear that I wasn't replying to you.

[Fear ón Srath Bán]

It's neither baying for blood nor playing a blame-game lads. Like I said t'would be common courtesy, nothing more or less, and would not imply guilt or otherwise. 

Sorry, didn't make it clear that I wasn't replying to you.

No worries, wouldn't do to persecute Aghyaran either.

[sonny]

This is my first post to the forum and I post for only one reason. 

I am from Aghyaran and I think perhaps the public should be aware that the reason for the Aghyaran club's silence on this matter is fairly obvious i.e. a short time after the accident the club were told that the matter was being referred to solicitors as Brian intended to take a legal claim for compensation against the Aghyaran young player involved in the accidental collision. 

It has been very difficult for Aghyaran people to sit back and read the absolute lies and propagranda in papers etc written about the accident.

It was a total accident regardless of what anyone writes.  I was only yards from the incident and no one at the time ref, umpires etc who all had a clear view of the incident thought it was anyway deliberate.  Frank McGuigan senior wasn't even in the ground when the accident happened. He only arrived later.

Aghyaran club and members sent there best wishes to Brian after the accident, one official spoke to Brian on the telephone and Aghyaran were also in contact with Ardboe officials in the days after Brian's injury to enquire about his well being but somewhere along the line Frank senior seems to totally blanked this from his memory!!!

I can assure you that everyone in Aghyaran wishes Brian a full and speedy recovery.