Soldiering for Treaty cause

An All Star in 2007, dropped in 2009, recalled in 2011 and then quitting inter-county scene at the age of 26, Andrew O’Shaughnessy is one of Limerick hurling’s greatest enigmas. He pulls no punches as he discusses his battle with multiple sclerosis and the vicious circle that surrounds the county team

It wasn’t MS that scared Andrew O’Shaughnessy. He’s taken that in his stride since being diagnosed in 2010. No, it was the low blow he took playing for Kilmallock against neighbours Bruree in a south county league game last June that frightened the life out of him. The pain, you can imagine, was excruciating. The thought of what happened to Joe Quaid crossed his mind. Quaid lost a testicle in a challenge game against Laois in 1997. O’Shaughnessy was luckier, but marginally so. The injury, the result of a “bad belt”, still required surgery.

The relief was immense. The same couldn’t be said for his reaction to what happened directly after the incident. “The worst thing about it was we got a free 30 yards in front of the goals and the free-taker missed it!”