Second cruciate injury a ‘devastating blow’ for Kerry’s Moran
The Kerins O’Rahillys man severed the ligament in his left knee while training with the Tralee club last week — the same cruciate he tore last April. The problem was diagnosed in Dublin’s Santry Sports Clinic on Saturday and means the 23-year-old is likely facing another season on the sidelines.
Moran had just returned to Kerry panel having recovered from tearing the cruciate in a league game against Monaghan last April.
In a statement released on Saturday evening, the Kerry County Board expressed their best wishes to the player in his recovery.
Kerry boss O’Connor said: “It’s a massive blow for David. He had worked very hard to come back from the first injury, he had done everything right, his rehab had gone well and it was just a freak accident.
“He was very close to playing again and we were figuring that within a couple of weeks he would be seeing action. It’s a big setback for Kerry as well. We missed him last year because he was playing well when he got injured. It’s a devastating blow because he had worked so hard to get back. For it then to all get snatched away again, it’s cruel.”
Moran’s unavailability means O’Connor’s midfield options will be limited again although Bryan Sheehan’s transformation into the centre earned him an All Star last year. Sheehan was one of a number of Kerry players who used Twitter to send on their best wishes to Moran after this latest setback. “Biggest sympathies. Tough break, put in a tremendous amount of work to get back. All the best on the road to recovery.”
Darran O’Sullivan reacted: “Gutted to hear about injury I saw how hard he worked to come back and I’m in no doubt he’ll be back better then ever!”
Killian Young tweeted: “I’m sure it’s hard to take.. Hope to see you back soon!”
Brendan Kealy, Daithi and Paul Geaney also offered messages of support to Moran.
Kerins O’Rahillys chairman Frank O’Connor said: “It’s desperate news from his own point of view and from the club’s and the county’s. He just jumped for a ball and came down and felt something going and the knee swelled up. He’d put a lot of time and effort into getting back to full fitness and being so close now this happens. It’s awful.”
Moran is the second inter-county senior footballer to be struck down with the injury this year after Cork’s David Goold last month.
As reported last week, the GAA have received 470 claims for cruciate operations in 2011.
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