Begley takes big step towards comeback

LIMERICK’S Brian Begley is back in light training after undergoing the operation aimed at resurrecting his injury ravaged career.

The Mungret dual player travelled to Holland last month for the procedure undertaken by a top specialist who has been employed by a number of leading Premiership sides in recent years.

Begley has been tormented by an ankle injury sustained in a Munster SHC match against Tipperary in 2003.

Although he has made several comeback attempts since, the ailment has never healed completely and that prompted the trip to the Netherlands with the blessing of Limerick County Board chairman Denis Holmes.

Begley met with the Limerick hurling management team of Joe McKenna, Ger Cunningham and Liam Lenihan at the end of October and, though still on crutches, he was positive about his recovery.

There has been talk of a return in the New Year in time for the National League but Lenihan, mindful of the fact that he has been injured for 29 months, was reluctant to talk of any target dates.

“Brian has struggled with the injury for nearly three years now and we’ll all be keeping our fingers crossed for him,” said the Tournafulla man yesterday.

“He is back doing some light training, some jogging which is encouraging, but it all depends on how much work he can put in.

“It’ll be another six weeks before he can start doing some heavier work and we’ll see how he’s going then.

“Of course, if he was available it would be a real boost to have a man of his ability back playing.”

Begley, who trained Lixnaw to a Kerry hurling title this year, won an U21 All-Ireland hurling medal with the county in 1999 as a full-forward but is a versatile player who adapts equally well to a defensive role.

Lenihan also confirmed yesterday that all of last year’s panel would be again be available for selection in 2006, while new football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan’s recent assertion that he was sympathetic to the dual player situation in the county was further good news.

“What we’re doing is no different to what is going on in Clare and Tipperary at the moment,” he said. “We’ve already played the Underdogs and Clare and we have a game against Thurles Sarsfields fixed for next Wednesday night.

“We’ll sit down then at Christmas and choose our panel for the year ahead.”