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Waterford's Pauric Mahony is out for the season with a serious leg injury. Cathal Noonan/INPHO
Road To Recovery

'The only way it will break again is if someone takes a sledgehammer to it'

Waterford’s Philip Mahony on his brother Pauric’s comeback from injury.

PAURIC MAHONY’S SEASON ground to a sickening halt recently and the Waterford star attacker didn’t have to look far for someone to relate to.

His brother Philip, wing-back on Derek McGrath’s recent league winning team, sustained a serious leg injury of his own last year in a club game and missed the 2014 championship.

Now his younger brother Pauric will miss out for the Deise hurlers but in a perverse way, breaking his shin will be easier to recover from than a torn cruciate.

“You know what they say about bones, they heal stronger and he’ll have the plate there,” remarked Philip.

Sledgehammer

“I think one of the surgeons said to him that the only way it will break again is if someone takes a sledgehammer to it. No, it’s going to be a long road back.

​”The first thing to say is that I was luckier. My break wasn’t as bad as Pauric’s. I didn’t have to get a plate put down through it as he has to. He’s obviously devastated, it’s only hitting home in the last few days as we’re building up to the Cork game.

Liberty Insurance GAA #DriveSafer Campaign Launch Philip Mahony at yesterday's launch of the Liberty Insurance GAA #DriveSafer campaign. Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

“The well wishes he received as well was great, keeping his mind space occupied, but I think once that died down and in the lead up to the Cork game, it’s definitely going to hit home for him.

It’s just disappointing but as long as he makes a full recovery.

“He is going to be hard to replace. He was probably the fulcrum of our team there (at centre-forward), at the centre of everything we were trying to do.”

Phillip Mahony and Harley Barnes raise the trophy Philip Mahony (left) celebrates Ballygunner's Waterford county final win last year. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Philip was present when the injury occurred to Pauric in that club game with Ballygunner.

“It was odd enough, my brother. My cousin was there as well, my uncle as well, it was probably that bit worse. I was back down the field so I didn’t really see but I remember seeing a few of the forwards and a few of them reacted weirdly, throwing off the helmets.

It was clear that something was after going wrong. I ran down immediately.

“There was a bit of hustle and bustle. I initially thought it was a head injury. Then Tadhg O’Sullivan came in and said it was his leg.

“Thankfully enough I didn’t look at it because I believe it didn’t look great on the ground.”

A fundraising challenge game takes place this weekend between Waterford and Wexford to assist Pauric.

“I think we’re playing Wexford. That’s nice. Obviously he’ll be out of work and that. It was in the middle of his exams as well. I think he’ll have to does his exams again in August.”

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