TIPPERARY MIDFIELDER GEORGE Hannigan is hoping to celebrate on the double next weekend as he earmarks a return from long-term injury while his father Joe is running as an independent candidate in the General Election.
Hannigan has been sidelined since suffering a groin injury against Kerry in last June’s Munster senior football semi-final but could feature against Westmeath in Sunday’s Allianz League Division 3 clash at Cusack Park in Mullingar.
Before that, Hannigan is busy as campaign manager for Joe, who’s targeting a seat in the Offaly constituency, which incorporates parts of North Tipperary.
Joe, the current Tipperary football board chairman, received a warm reception in Tullamore last Sunday when he attended the Offaly-Laois hurling League fixture.
And George is optimistic about his father’s chances of securing a Dáil seat.
He said: “The campaign has been very successful so far and we’ve had great support from the people of Offaly and Tipperary.
“There’s a definite appetite out there for an independent voice and people are very welcoming on the doors, more willing to engage.
“They want to talk to Joe and find out what he’s about and what his ideas are.
“Hopefully the people of North Tipperary and Offaly will come out and back him on Friday.”
Hannigan, along with others, was instrumental in establishing underage coaching structures in Tipperary that resulted in All-Ireland minor football glory in 2011 and an U21 final appearance last year.
George, meanwhile, has credited former Munster rugby star Ian Dowling and deep tissue masseur Paul McMahon with his recovery from a full avulsion of the adductor longus, where the muscle tears off the bone.
The 28-year-old midfielder explained: “Initially it was seen as a very bad injury but I wouldn’t say it was career-threatening.
“There was no surgery and it was a case of time and rehab.
“Ian Dowling gave me a lot of time in fairness to him, worked a lot with me, along with Paul McMahon, and gave me a good bit of advice.
“Ian had to retire himself because of injury and knows the ins and outs of trying to come back and get yourself right.”
Hannigan returned to full squad training recently but is hoping to play a full game or two before the conclusion of Tipp’s League campaign.
It’s likely that he’ll be eased slowly back into action by manager Liam Kearns and Hannigan revealed: “The boys played Meath in a challenge last weekend and I didn’t participate. It’s up to the management to determine what way I am.
“I haven’t played a competitive match yet and it’s a big ask to play any major role on Sunday – but we’ll see.”
