Shannon McGroddy, Donegal.
SHANNON McGroddy will sit out Donegal’s Ulster Championship semi-final against Armagh, as she has picked up her third concussion in the space of a year and-a-half.
McGroddy took a knock to her head at training last week, and will follow the correct protocols before returning to the field of the play.
Concussion is topical in sport at the minute, and the Donegal player admitted that it is worrying.
“It’s difficult because there’s so much talk about concussion these days.
“There was a doctor on Ireland AM last week talking about it, and there was an MMA fighter (Aisling Daly) on saying that she was forced to retire after getting repeated concussions.
“It does worry me, but it’s just about being careful and trying to stay out of trouble.”
Her latest concussion came at training last Friday, and unusually it occurred when the team were doing sprints.
She said: “We were doing sprints towards the goalposts, and I was racing against Yvonne (McMonagle).
“I remember touching the post and looking across to see if I beat her.
“I don’t know how it happened but I fell into a grass bank and hit my head.
“I’ve staples in my head now, and I’m out for a few weeks.
“I never found out if I won the race either.”
McGroddy will spend a minimum of three weeks on the sidelines, and needs clearance from a GP before getting back into contact training again.
It’s a blow to the Maynooth University student, who has worked hard to get into Michael Naughton’s plans this season.
“It’s hard when you’re away from home at college, as they don’t see as much of you as you’re only there on Friday nights.
“Adam Speer was brilliant and he designed a special running programme that I could do by myself.
“I didn’t play much at the start of the league, but pushed my way in for the last three or four games, and I started the final, which I was pleased about.
“It’s just disappointing to get injured, because someone else takes my place now, and it’s hard to get back in.”
McGroddy won an All-Ireland Club title with Termon in 2014, but she is back playing football with her home club Downings, after they restarted their ladies team in anticipation of the 2018 All-Ireland Gaeltacht Championships, which they will host.
It’s a big year for her parish, and she’s also hoping that it will be a big season for her county.
She plans to be back fit for an Ulster Final, if Donegal can see off their old foes Armagh this week.
“We won’t be underestimating them anyway. They beat us in the 2015 League Final and the All-Ireland quarter-final.
“We’ve had a lot of good battles with them, and there will be a lot of individual battles to keep an eye on as well.
“If we can bring it all together on the day, I’m confident that we can win.”
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