Kelly relieved to be back on the field after six month lay-off

Cork senior footballer Patrick Kelly is relieved to be back in action but knows he will have to work hard to ensure he avoids a recurrence of the hip injury which kept him out of action for more than six months.

The Ballincollig man made his return to action as a late substitute in the unlikely position of centre-back against Derry at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday and he was just relieved to get back playing again.

“It was nice to get back on the pitch again for a few minutes,” he said. “I suppose, like any injury, it’s very frustrating, it’s the worst part of playing any sport. I thought it was good to go last year and it was for a small bit but then it became very stiff and sore again.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t totally solved so I went back in again to get it done and so far, so good. It’s early days yet though and I’ll have to keep on top of it.”

Having missed the league due to a hip problem in 2013, Kelly looked to have been over it but this appearance was his first since August. The second injury was not brought about by a case of not allowing enough recovery time, however.

“I don’t think it was a case of coming back too soon,” he said.

“A bit of bone is shaved off and then it all depends on whether the cartilage grows back or not. That happened well enough but a lot of it is down to how well things fit, you don’t have much protection between the femoral head and the hip joint.

“It is what it is, you just hope that you can get some bit comfortable when you’re training and playing.”

To that end, it is vital to work hard to minimise the chances of it happening again. It’s a thing that’s going to be ongoing,” Kelly said.

“You have to keep the muscles around the joint good and loose, because if they get tight then your body will start compensating in different ways.

* Martin Byrnes has been appointed manager of the Dr Crokes senior football team. He was on the panel that won the All Ireland Club Championship in 1992.