Post by Mickmack on Nov 2, 2007 22:37:43 GMT
Another week in injury limbo for Davy Fitz
By Paddy` Hickey
Friday November 02 2007
DAVY FITZGERALD will have to contend with the agonising uncertainty of waiting another week before learning if he will be able to return to hurling action.
The Clare legend suffered a horrific hand injury in the county hurling semi-final when lining out for Sixmilebridge against Crusheen on Saturday October 6. The top part of a finger on his left hand was almost completely severed.
The long-serving goalkeeper was rushed by ambulance to Galway and operated on that night for two hours. The severed part of his finger was re-attached, but Fitzgerald doesn't know yet if he will ever regain full use of the finger.
"It all depends on whether the nerve in my finger returns to working normally," he explained. "If that doesn't happen, then I will be finished with hurling.
"At the moment, my finger is all bandaged up, so it's hard to know what kind of improvement is taking place.
"I'll be in the dark about whether I'll play again until I go back to the hospital towards the end of next week,'' added the three-time All Star.
The 36-year-old is still experiencing some discomfort with his finger, but it pales into comparison with what he was forced to tolerate at any earlier stage.
"For the first two weeks after the operation, the pain was almost unbelievable, and I wouldn't have wished it on anybody," he pointed out. "I had to take a savage amount of tablets to try and get some relief. But at the moment, the situation is a lot better."
The Sixmilebridge clubman revealed that he sustained the injury as a high ball was driven into the goalmouth. "I had my two hands on the hurley, and the next thing I remember is getting this massive wallop on my left hand," said the double All-Ireland winner.
"I could see straight away that my finger was almost hanging off, and I walked off the pitch immediately.
"As you can imagine, I was in a bad way, and after waiting 10 to 15 minutes for an ambulance, I was brought to hospital in Galway."
- Paddy` Hickey
By Paddy` Hickey
Friday November 02 2007
DAVY FITZGERALD will have to contend with the agonising uncertainty of waiting another week before learning if he will be able to return to hurling action.
The Clare legend suffered a horrific hand injury in the county hurling semi-final when lining out for Sixmilebridge against Crusheen on Saturday October 6. The top part of a finger on his left hand was almost completely severed.
The long-serving goalkeeper was rushed by ambulance to Galway and operated on that night for two hours. The severed part of his finger was re-attached, but Fitzgerald doesn't know yet if he will ever regain full use of the finger.
"It all depends on whether the nerve in my finger returns to working normally," he explained. "If that doesn't happen, then I will be finished with hurling.
"At the moment, my finger is all bandaged up, so it's hard to know what kind of improvement is taking place.
"I'll be in the dark about whether I'll play again until I go back to the hospital towards the end of next week,'' added the three-time All Star.
The 36-year-old is still experiencing some discomfort with his finger, but it pales into comparison with what he was forced to tolerate at any earlier stage.
"For the first two weeks after the operation, the pain was almost unbelievable, and I wouldn't have wished it on anybody," he pointed out. "I had to take a savage amount of tablets to try and get some relief. But at the moment, the situation is a lot better."
The Sixmilebridge clubman revealed that he sustained the injury as a high ball was driven into the goalmouth. "I had my two hands on the hurley, and the next thing I remember is getting this massive wallop on my left hand," said the double All-Ireland winner.
"I could see straight away that my finger was almost hanging off, and I walked off the pitch immediately.
"As you can imagine, I was in a bad way, and after waiting 10 to 15 minutes for an ambulance, I was brought to hospital in Galway."
- Paddy` Hickey