Honan played through the pain barrier

One of Clare’s brightest hurling stars played through the pain barrier for as long as he could but corrective surgery on his hips means that Darach Honan should make a return to action in time for this year’s Munster championship.
The Clonlara and Clare forward expects to be back jogging in three weeks time following surgery on both hips prior to Christmas. The hip bones were not sitting properly in their sockets and this has been corrected. Now Darach is going through an intensive rehabilitation programme designed to strengthen the muscles and the hips.
Out of the game since Clare lost to Tipperary in the Munster semi-final last June, Darach spoke to The Clare Champion this week about the injury that has confined him to the role of spectator.
“I had the first operation on November 18 and the second on December 16 and I hope to be back jogging in three weeks time. I won’t be running for another three weeks,” he said, adding that he has April as his target date to begin playing again.
The Clonlara man, a key figure in his club’s senior championship success in 2008 and in Clare’s Munster and All-Ireland U-21 wins in 2009 revealed he was in severe pain from March of last year until he finally had to call a halt in June.
“I was in a lot of pain and shouldn’t have played in the championship. It was frustrating when I was playing because of the pain and finally I just knew I could not go on,” said Darach, the son of former Clare player Colm.
“A friend of mine arranged an appointment for me with his dad who is a specialist. An examination revealed a problem with my hips, which weren’t sitting right in their sockets. Surgery was required to correct this,” last year’s Bord Gais U-21 hurling ambassador revealed.
“It was frustrating looking on during the summer as the club played in the championship and it’s frustrating at the moment with the lads working so hard in training for this year’s games,” he said.
“Clare’s preparations look to be going well and I am looking forward to getting back as I have been out too long,” Honan added.
While still a minor, Honan helped his club win the county senior crown in 2008 and was a leading light for the county U-21 outfit the following year when they made the breakthrough to win their first Munster title at this level.
On a never to be forgotton evening in Dungarvan, the Clonlara man scored a crucial goal as Clare ended many years of disappointment in taking the Munster title. Subsequently he stood out in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Galway in Thurles before sparkling again when Clare defeated Kilkenny in the final.
He was immediately drafted into the county senior squad by the then manager, Ger O’Loughlin.
The injury clearly hampered his performances last year, when he came in for a lot of criticism for under par displays. Questions were raised as to whether or not Honan had peaked as an underage player but he will have an opportunity to answer the critics when he makes a welcome return to action in the coming months.

Hurlers play Gort
Meanwhile, Clare will continue their build up to competitive action with a game against All-Ireland club semi-finalists Gort this Saturday at the South Galway club’s venue at 2pm.
Gort are getting ready for their All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Offaly’s Coolderry on Saturday, February 11, at Limerick. On the same day, the Sean Stack-coached Na Piarsaigh will play Lougheil from Antrim in the other semi-final at Parnell Park.