Fundraiser for Cork GAA player who suffered serious injuries

Fri, 03 Jan, 2025 - 09:20

Echo reporter

A fundraising campaign has been launched to help a young GAA player who suffered life-changing injuries while playing for his local GAA club.

Brian O’Connor, 21, was lining out for Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels in a Junior A Football Championship match in September, when an accidental clash with another player left him with injuries including a ruptured bowel and significant abdominal trauma.

He had to undergo an emergency eight-hour surgery at CUH the following day, followed by a second surgery one week later on his pancreas. This ultimately resulted to almost two weeks in ICU fighting bravely to recover.

After six gruelling weeks in hospital, he was discharged home under clinical care supported by a Community Intervention Team at MPHC and weekly visits to the Mercy Hospital Cork.

Brian is a fourth-year apprentice electrician. Due to the nature of the injuries he suffered in the match, it means he is unable to work for at least six months. The financial burden of lost earnings combined with ongoing medical expenses have placed immense strain on Brian and his family, during what is an already stressful and challenging time.

In a statement, Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels GAA said: “We, the Liscarroll Churchtown Gaels community, are rallying together to support Brian and his loved ones. This GoFundMe page is our way of giving back to someone who has given so much to our club and the sport he loves.”