The Irish gaelic footballer assaulted and seriously injured in a match just days after he arrived in San Francisco has re-lived the horror attack.
Now home in Fermanagh, Mark McGovern spoke to Irish radio presenter Des Cahill about his harrowing ordeal last June.
The 23-year-old arrived back in the village of Belcoo this week after a 14 day trip by sea and land from the West Coast of America.
As his family come to terms with the $1.2 million cost of his medical care, police are investigating the assault involving opponent Patrick Power of the San Francisco Celts club.
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Power has received a 96-week ban from all GAA activities and is under investigation by local police after the fracas with McGovern, playing his first game for the Ulster club just days after landing in America.
McGovern’s family were told to prepare for the worst when they first visited their son in a California hospital, such was the horrific nature of his head and brain injuries.
But the Fermanagh county player has defied medical opinion, first by regaining consciousness and then with his recovery to the extent that doctors in the U.S. were delighted to give him permission last month to return home.
“The long journey home was accompanied by a sense of relief,” McGovern told Cahill on RTE radio.
“I don’t really remember much about what happened. The lad hit me a couple of times. I gave him a box just to let him know I was there, but he kept hitting me.
“Later on, when I ran forward to help take a ball, he pretty much came up and whacked me. I can’t really remember what happened afterwards.”
Now under medical care in his home village, McGovern conceded that it will be some time before he is completely recovered from his ordeal.
“My speech still has to be worked on; my balance, too, has a lot to be said for it,” he told Cahill.
“I’ll have rehab running for the next six months, probably longer. I can’t work, can’t drive and can’t drink, either. It’ll be a quiet year for me.”
A fund has been set-up to help the McGovern family cope with the mounting cost of Mark’s treatment.
Further details are available at www.support4markmcgovern.com.
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Ernesider | Nov 06, 2011, 07:26 PM EST
Well, unfortunately the McGoverns are forgiving people and Mark would be first to condemn the views presented. The game Mark played ( and my understanding is that he will not play again ) is Gaelic Athletic Association football. It might best be described as a combination of soccer and basketball. Mark was a great player and played at a level where he represented his county. What Mr. Power did was definitely something that deserves more than what appears to have happened so far. Not knowing the facts I'll just say that the McGoverns are not revengeful and justice will find a way. I wish Mark all the best in Belcoo and hope his recovery becomes complete. Belcoo is quiet even on busy days so sit out and enjoy the breezes coming from Lough MacNean. You'll be whole in no time.
Searlit | Nov 06, 2011, 03:38 PM EST
I agree with both comments, below.
jrose6500 | Nov 06, 2011, 01:30 PM EST
Patrick Power needs to be in a room alone with the victims family for an hour. What an animal! He is one of many people who make Americans look like uncivilized, wild beasts.
colkelley | Nov 06, 2011, 09:33 AM EST
After having a son who played soccer here in the States up the Olympic Development level I can state that too little is done to stop extreme acts of retaliation and violence by U.S. soccer players - usually resulting from the instructions of their coaches. Power should receive a lifetime ban and should be prosecuted for either felony assault with grievous bodily injury or attempted murder and his coach should also be banned for life and charged as an accessory before the fact. A message needs to be sent into the U.S soccer community that violence on the pitch will result in serious punishments.