Charlie Mitchell hoping to return soon

Click here to listen to the full interview with Offaly senior hurler Charlie Mitchell.

By Cian O'Connell

Since January, it has been a demanding spell for the accomplished Offaly forward Charlie Mitchell.

Whether with Kilcormac-Killoughey, University of Galway or Offaly, hurling was always on the agenda. Being diagnosed with a heart condition earlier this year, though, means Mitchell, the Offaly captain, has been restricted.

Having recently returned to light training, Mitchell is hopeful of featuring at some stage in the Leinster SHC. "It has been tough, I've obviously been out, but I'm back doing a light bit now," Mitchell says.

"It's great to even be able to do that, it's been tough, but hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel.

"When you're going from playing the whole time, you're training three or four nights a week to going to doing nothing, it's tough on the head, but you're just trying to keep positive, and keep it in your head that you'll have a part to play. So, you've to get right, too."

Staying positive is key. "You have to, and hopefully I'll see some stage of the Championship, maybe," Mitchell says.

"It's just trying to keep that positivity. You want to be good spirits around the group, to be driving them on. You're not coming in, feeling sorry for yourself or anything like that."

Despite being relegated from Division 1A of the Allianz Hurling League, Mitchell is hopeful that a talented crop of emerging players can deliver at the highest level. "Obviously, we've had that success at U20, but we're under no illusions, that isn't just going to directly translate over to senior," Mitchell says.

"We're putting in huge work still at underage and all of the lads that have come up senior are training hard, trying to make that next step at senior level to push on.

"Hopefully, there will be exciting times in the coming years, but it isn't going to just happen, it's going to take huge work from us all."