SLIGO FOOTBALLER DAVID Kelly has revealed that his career was saved after an ankle problem was finally dealt with by a London-based surgeon who had previously helped Manchester United player Marouane Fellaini.
26-year-old Kelly has battled the problem over the past two years and being restricted to a peripheral role in the inter-county game. But he returned to action in June and has been indebted to the role of surgeon James Caldwell after Kelly had previously scoured the world for someone to help cure his injury.
“I’ve had two years of ankle injuries wrecking my head. I went for surgery in September last year and I was told there was only a split in the tendon. I went in for the surgery to get it sewn up but, when he looked at it, the two tendons were completely gone.
“They were like a cheese-string, they were completely pulled apart. That surgeon wanted to do the surgery but he had never done that surgery before. I looked elsewhere to see if there were other options. I was onto surgeons in America, Australia, Germany, London.
“I was chatting to one guy in America and he told me ‘Oh we can do the surgery, but you wouldn’t be playing football or any other sport again’.
“But I went to James Caldwell in London who has worked with Marouane Fellaini — he had something similar. Once I met him, he inspired confidence in me straight away and I’ve had no problems since.
“It was October last year, fairly major surgery. They actually took tendon from my hamstring and grafted it onto my ankle. Much like a cruciate, but of the ankle.”
Kelly enjoyed a brilliant campaign in 2010 with his electric attacking play helping DCU win the Sigerson Cup while Sligo won the Division 3 league final and reached the Connacht decider.
Since then the injury – which is similar to that which has afflicted Galway’s Michael Meehan – has stalled Kelly’s career. He came on as a sub when Sligo exited the championship against Derry in July but progression with his club Tubbercurry to this year’s county senior final has helped awaken his desire for more football.
“From being told you wouldn’t play again, you’re kind of saying ‘okay there’s a chance here’, you take whatever. I got back with the club this year and it was absolutely brilliant. We got a run to the county final, I got Player of the Year in Sligo so I did alright. County is another step up but I’ll give it a go anyway.”
New Sligo boss Pat Flanagan
Pic: INPHO/Ken Sutton
There’ll be a new man steering the way for the Yeats County as well with Pat Flanagan appointed after Kevin Walsh’s reign concluded.
“We were lucky to get into our county final in mid-October, and there was still uncertainty after that — even going into November, wondering if we’d have a manager going into January.
“It was announced a week and a half ago, Pat Flanagan. I hadn’t heard the name (mentioned) at all but I was delighted when it was announced.
“People are saying it’s late getting back but a break is good sometimes. We met last weekend for the first time, it was very positive and lads were looking forward to the year.”
