O’Dwyer not ruling out London return

Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Odran O’Dwyer is not ruling out the possibility that he’ll be fit in time for his club’s All-Ireland quarter-final with Tír Chonaill Gaels in Ruislip on January 24.

However, the Clare and Munster club champions veteran forward believes it more likely that he will be available for a possible All-Ireland club semi-final meeting with Portlaoise, if Kilmurry reach that stage. The semi-final is due to be played on the weekend of February 20/21.
O’Dwyer, who lined out at full-forward in Kilmurry’s Munster club final win over Kerins O’Rahilly’s in Limerick, sustained his knee injury training with Kilmurry at Seafield beach last Sunday.
The knee was scanned by Aiden Devitt, a specialist at Bon Secours Hospital in Galway on Monday and the Mullagh man was expecting the results in the middle of this week.  
“Thankfully Aiden Devitt saw me at short notice. He scanned it and I’m just waiting to get the results. He’s hopeful that the cruciate is okay. It’s probably a grade one tear in around the medial ligament but we’re not sure. We’re waiting to get the results,” O’Dwyer told The Clare Champion on Tuesday.
“He’s almost 100% certain that it isn’t the cruciate. The lower fibres of the ligament, where it attaches to the bone, is where the problem is,” the former international rules footballer explained.
At first, O’Dwyer thought the injury was very serious.
“There was two loud clicks and my whole leg went numb. I thought there was serious damage at the time. You initially think the worst. I’m hobbling around on crutches but it’s improving everyday. We won’t be lacking in rehab anyway. I’ll be out there doing the rehabilitation as much as I can,” he said.
However, even if the scan results are positive, O’Dwyer will be sidelined for at least three weeks, which will make his participation in the London match touch and go.
“I’d be fairly positive that when the results come back things won’t be as bad as we thought initially. Aiden Devitt said it would take three weeks in most cases. If you required minor surgery, you’re probably looking at a minimum of three weeks anyway. Even with rest, you’re looking at three weeks and with rest you’ve no training done, no kicking or you haven’t the leg put under pressure,” he said.
Realistically, O’Dwyer feels he should be back for a perspective All-Ireland semi-final, provided Kilmurry are not beaten in London on Sunday fortnight.
“You’d be hoping that if the boys get over Tír Chonaill Gaels and that’s a big if, obviously I’m hoping that they do; I’d be able to play some part in the semi-final if we get that far. But obviously we’re not looking past the London game yet. If it’s a thing I’m right and I can play some part in the London game, I’d be delighted. If not, I’ll be there roaring them on from the sideline,” he said.