Clare star Shane O’Donnell has spoken of the trauma he experienced after being concussed during a training session two years ago.
The Banner forward won a second All-Ireland SHC title in July and is on the shortlist for the Hurler of the Year award ahead of Friday’s All-Stars ceremony.
“I’ve a weird connection in my brain when it comes to concussion,” O’Donnell told the GAA Social podcast.
“When I was recovering, for no real reason I just thought about it and I would have tears on my face.
“That was like a strange emotional outburst almost but it was attached to the concussion, which still holds some sort of emotional sway.”
There were setbacks in his recovery as O’Donnell first returned to club action.
“I was very tentative about it – I got hit in a game and I was like: ‘Was that concussion, was it not?
“This whole fear just sucked me back to where I was a few month before, in the worst of it.”
O’Donnell considered not returning to hurling but advice from his girlfriend has helped him recover.
“She said ‘the best thing you can do, if you’re anxious about going back or have any kind of anxiety or fear then exposure is the solution’.
“‘You can’t not go back because you’ll always have that fear of hurling or sport or being on the pitch.
“That’s what basically made my decision – I really have to expose myself to the fear. I’m 100% now.”
