Walking wounded our worry

SPORT is a cruel business. Once again last Saturday we saw the dreams of a talented young sportsman shattered with an innocuous tackle. The forthcoming World Cup was the perfect stage for the talents of Geordan Murphy.

Over the past three years he has set the Zurich Premiership alight and while it has taken a little bit longer to make a similar impact at international level, Murphy’s performances in the green jersey over the past twelve months have earmarked him for greatness. While the broken leg he sustained in Murrayfield is a shattering blow to him personally, it has also robbed Ireland of one of their twin attacking weapons.

Contrast his situation with that of Frankie Sheahan. Suspended for a period of two years, Frankie’s future in the game lay in the hands of an ERC judicial review panel. Thankfully an injustice was righted, and a hugely emotional week was sealed with his inclusion in the squad for Australia. It speaks volumes for Frankie’s temperament that he was able to perform for eighty minutes against Leinster on Friday night after the week that he had been through.