How a hamstring tear cost David O’Leary his season with Dr Crokes - but caught his cancer

Like most sportspeople, the former Kerry U21 player felt bullet-proof. Fit, strong, healthy, he was barely ever sick. He is thankful it was caught when it was

Like most sportspeople, former Kerry U21 player David O'Leary felt bullet-proof. Fit, strong, healthy, he was barely ever sick. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

When David ‘Buddy’ O’Leary tore his hamstring in a football game in Glenflesk on July 13, his initial reaction was one of disappointment. He figured he would miss the start of the Kerry Club Championship. Little did he know that less than four weeks later he would be having surgery for testicular cancer.

The 31-year-old had been having hamstring trouble for a while. Within three minutes he had to come off the pitch.