‘Playing again was all my dreams come true’

LAST October, few in the GAA world heard the story about a Carlow footballer fighting for his life.

Alan Curran had been the county’s top scorer in the championship from right half-back, was in the prime of his career and made 2011 a target year to win his first championship match with the county after five years with the seniors.

One night out in Carlow town changed everything. The details are the subject of a criminal investigation but Curran received brain injuries and went into a coma. It was touch and go for a while. The doctors feared for the worst. He lay unconscious.

“I got out of the coma after a week and a week and a half after that I was let home,” he said.

“So two and a half weeks after the incident happened the lads were doing a gym session under the stand in Dr Cullen Park. On the way home from the hospital I got my father to drop me up to them to see the lads because they had sent me cards. I wanted to watch them train and tell Luke (Dempsey) that I’d be back.”

It was just a statement at the time. He meant it but didn’t know if he could fulfil his promise because the doctors told him he might never play again. His head might not be able to withstand an impact.

Devastated, he faced losing everything he’d played for. He had lined out for Carlow county teams from U14 to senior. Only one other player in the current panel joined him on that journey, John Murphy from Grange.

The team visited him while he was in the coma. The panel of just 26 players, the only ones in the county willing to go through the demands necessary to make it at inter-county level, had lost a brother and wanted him back. When he doubted himself, they cheered him on.

“Luckily in February I went for tests and was told I could go back but I had to wear a scrum cap and watch myself,” he said.

“My target, that I asked the doctors, was could I play in the championship and they said it depends on how things go. If things weren’t going well with my head or I felt I was down, small little things, they wouldn’t allow me to play.

“Thankfully the unity of the team helped me get over that. I was gutted because I never thought I’d play football again. I lost a stone and three quarters over five days and was in a coma for a week. My body went into shock and lost the weight.

“That was my target to come back and play that game (Leinster championship against Louth). I was dreaming about it since last October, being able to play that game. I knew I wouldn’t be there for the league so it was all my dreams come true.”

The first few steps were tentative. His family supported him but couldn’t watch. Watching him close to slipping away in a hospital bed a few months before was still raw. They couldn’t face it at first but lifelong supporters of everything he did, they came along and were filled with pride when they beat Louth.

He’s not out of the woods yet though. After losing so much weight he’s struggled to put it back on. He’s been going to the gym trying to get his strength back. There’s also a series of regular check ups and scans as the doctors continually observe him.

“I had no fears. I wore the scrum cap at training. The doctor told me to go back when I felt I could go back. You have to be very careful because you’re more likely to get a bang in a club game than a county one because it’s pure football.

“I’ve been winning all the long-distance running and some of the lads have been asking me what diet I’ve been on. I lost all my strength and have been in the gym three times a week. I got the all clear in March so it’s been pretty tough going and worthwhile.”

Now he’s in bonus territory. On the bench for the weekend’s clash with Wexford he will return to Croke Park where he made his debut.

If he takes to the field tomorrow, there’ll be a cheer from the few Carlow supporters in head quarters. If not, he won’t mind. He’s already made huge strides to get this far.

Picture: Michael O'Rourke