Eoghan Donnellan: ‘I’m out of hurling for a while, but being able to stand up is more important’

It was shortly before midday yesterday when Eoghan Donnellan received the news he’d been waiting for. He was free to leave the National Spinal injuries unit at Dublin’s Mater Hospital – and thankfully able to walk out.

As Ballyea were busy collecting a first Clare senior hurling title last Sunday, 23-year-old Donnellan was confined to a ward in Limerick’s regional hospital, recovering from a terrifying training ground injury.

It happened last Friday week during a practice match, as Donnellan recalls: “I remember it. One of the balls went in, fell out of my hand and as I went to pick it up, I turned to my right at the same time. It was a split second thing, as I received a shoulder into the head and my head went down, I fell backwards and felt the shock through my left hand side.”