Moran eyes December return after breaking leg

MAYO star Andy Moran saw his 2011 International Rules dream end painfully at the weekend when he broke his leg at Ireland training in Dublin.

The All-Star contender broke the fibula in his lower left leg at squad training in Parnell Park on Saturday but the injury is not as bad as he first feared and he hopes to be back in full training in mid-December.

“I’m lucky, to be honest,” said Moran. “When the leg went from under me I thought my cruciate (knee ligament) was gone. I’m gone for three to four months now but I thought (initially) that next season was over.

“The crack was quite loud. I knew it was a nasty injury but I’m happy out that it’s not as bad as it could have been. From the county side of things I’m quite pleased because I’m not going to miss much there at all. If this happened in July or August I’d be fierce depressed.”

With his club Ballaghaderreen out of the Mayo club championship, the trip to Australia is the only significant game Moran will miss but the Mayo vice-captain was philosophical about missing that trip.

“It’s disappointing to miss the International Rules because, bar playing for Mayo, it is the best opportunity you can get. But the most important thing for me is Mayo. This (International Rules) is a bonus at the end of the year.

“It’s a pity because it suited my style and it will be hard to see the lads going to Australia, but I’m definitely looking at the glass half-full because when I went down injured I thought next year was gone.”

The 28-year-old will be on crutches and a boot cast for six weeks and is hoping to be back in full training by December. Is this injury a welcome break? “Probably not because when I’m not able to exercise I grow sideways,” Moran quipped.

“I hope to be in the gym in two weeks using the cross-trainer and the bike and building myself back.”