PETER HEALION HAS hailed club-mate Dan Currams for his remarkable recovery from a broken leg which saw him make a return for Kilcormac/Killoughey in the county final just four weeks later.
Currams suffered a broken leg prior to the Offaly semi-final win over Belmont and was desperate to feature in the decider, having missed out on the 2013 All-Ireland club final defeat to St Thomas’s through injury.
It appeared as though the 28-year-old’s season was over but, after taking inspiration from Jackie Tyrrell’s autobiography, he pushed himself to the limit to make an unlikely comeback in just 29 days for their county final success against St Rynagh’s.
“We were sure he was gone and he was told he was gone,” says Healion, who has featured in a new role at full-forward this year.
“He just got a stroke…it shattered the smaller of his two shin bones and it came out through the side of it (his leg).
“It was broken. He limped off and I texted him that evening when he was in casualty. He replied: “The leg is gone. I’m done.’ It was just a testament to the man he is.
“He worked incredibly hard. People don’t realise, the man was doing more sit-ups, chin-ups and working on a rowing machine with one leg trying to keep his cardio up. It was only the Friday before the county final we got word that he was going to be fit but he wasn’t going to start.
“Then when he came on he set the place alight in fairness. Even the fact he came on and he showed lads, look lads I’ve done this in four weeks I’ve gotten back from a broken bone to come on. He came on and he was like a man possessed. If you put Dan Currams in a situation where he’s like that, no-one will stop him. But he’s very dedicated to the cause.”
Not alone did he make a return to the pitch, but Currams fired over three inspirational points to help Kilcormac/Killoughey seal the victory and win his fourth county medal.
“He’s back now and he’s flying fit again. He’s going well again which we’ll need the next day. It’s massive for the team.
“You can’t replace the likes of Dan Currams. He can make something out of nothing. Lads do look up to him. If you need a score Dan is the man to get it.
“At one stage in the county final he pucked over a ball under the stand about 40 yards out over his shoulder. It was a ferocious strike against the wind and he put it straight over. It just settled the nerves against Rynagh’s and helped get us over the line.”
Currams made his senior debut for Offaly in 2008 and captained the county in 2015, but opted out of the set-up last year.
He’s back in the Faithful squad for the coming season under new manager Kevin Martin, along with Conor Mahon, who last represented the county in 2014.
“They’ve committed to going back in which is great because Offaly needs every hurler they can get,” says Healion.
“There’s a few more lads called back in. There’s about nine lads called in from Kilcormac/Killoughey.
“Any good inter-county team need a panel of 45 lads because at any givens stage you have 10 lads either injured, away, college, exams. If you want to be competitive on the hurling field you need 30 lads.
“It’ll be great if we can get all of Offaly’s best hurlers back in because that’s what Offaly need. Especially with the new facilities they’re after opening up just outside Kilcormac The Faithful Fields. We played there on Sunday morning and it’s a fabulous set-up. There’s nothing the county teams could possibly need after this.”
Looking ahead to Sunday, Kilcormac/Killoughey are one game away from making their first Leinster final since 2015 when they were defeated by Ballyhale Shamrocks.
Carlow champions Mount Leinster Rangers stand in their way, a team the Offaly side defeated during their run to the All-Ireland final in the 2012/13 season. Healion is well aware of the challenge facing them.
“It’s going to be a winter battle. You can talk about what the two teams have and haven’t, but unfortunately when it comes to winter hurling there’s a lot of lads left behind. It’s about the dog that wants it the most.
“We’re very lucky with the bunch of lads. I’d say 12 of our starting 15 are over six foot. Especially at this time of year it gets to a more physical game. You’d like to think we’re that bit more experienced, we do have a great defence – we’ve a great keeper and the six backs are a solid unit.
“This year I’ve moved into the forwards so I can’t even include myself in that. We take our chances, chase every ball, take the right score and give the ball to the man in the right position. It’s the basics of hurling and if you get them right you won’t be far away on any giving day.”
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