Mc Govern back home after 18-day journey

MARK Mc Govern, the Fermanagh gaelic footballer who sustained horrific head injuries in an off the ball attack in San Francisco, has returned to Ireland after an epic 18-day journey from America.

The 23-year-old was left brain damaged after he was struck by an opponent in a game between the Ulster Club and the San Francisco Celts in June.

Such was the severity of the damage, Mc Govern spent five weeks in a medically-induced coma before beginning a rehab process that astounded medics.

Due to the nature of his head trauma Mc Govern was unable to fly home and instead undertook a mammoth trip from the western seaboard of the United States. The first leg was a train ride across the USA from San Francisco to New York. This was followed by 10 days in a boat across the Atlantic to Southampton. From there he was driven to Holyhead, took a ferry to Dublin before an emotional return to his native Belcoo late on Monday night.

He admitted: “It’s amazing to get through the front gates of the house, to get to the front door and not be assisted by anyone. There’s no place like home.!”

- A campaign to raise funds for Mc Govern can be found at Support4markmcgovern.com.