‘I don’t want him to touch an O’Neills ball again’

THE Fermanagh footballer who was left in a coma for five weeks this summer has criticised the GAA for their relaxed attitude towards violence on the pitch.

Mark McGovern was hit off the ball during a club game in San Francisco in June, and his friends and family were initially told he may not make it through the night. In an exclusive interview in tomorrow’s Irish Examiner, the 23-year-old said he has forgiven his assailant, American Patrick Power, but is furious with GAA over the maximum 96-week ban that was handed down.

“You give an official a slap in the arse, you are gone for life,” said McGovern who lined out for his county in the McKenna Cup just under a year ago. “I was nearly killed and he gets 96 weeks. I’m good at moving on but I’ll stand in front of those changing rooms if they let him play again. I don’t want him to touch an O’Neills ball again. Football was such a big part of my life and it was taken away from me. But the position I’m in now, other than him playing football again, I feel nothing against him really. I feel sorry for him being that type of person and he’s now in a far worse position than me. I’m back on my feet and he has to live with this. But when championship comes around and I can’t play and I can’t train, I don’t know what way I’ll be. Maybe then I’ll go outside and scream at the top of my voice.”