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Damien Comer delighted to be back in action

Pictured is Galway footballer Damien Comer ahead of the upcoming Allianz Football League Division One Final this weekend. It’s an all-western Allianz Football League Division 1 final for the first time since 2001, when Mayo beat Galway by a point. Prior to that, the last all-Connacht final was in 1981 when Galway beat Roscommon.

Pictured is Galway footballer Damien Comer ahead of the upcoming Allianz Football League Division One Final this weekend. It’s an all-western Allianz Football League Division 1 final for the first time since 2001, when Mayo beat Galway by a point. Prior to that, the last all-Connacht final was in 1981 when Galway beat Roscommon.

By Cian O’Connell

Damien Comer had to worry and wait. A knee injury suffered by the Annaghdown clubman on February 5 in Galway’s Allianz Football League game against Roscommon was going to be tricky to deal with.

When Comer hit the deck what thoughts were drifting through his mind? “Admittedly you're thinking the worst - is it another season on the sidelines?” Comer responds.

“The positive straight after the game was the initial pain that was there settled fairly quickly. By the time I had even got off the stretcher in the dressing room it had settled, there was no swelling. So I was probably trying to take that as a good sign. Sometimes swelling occurs and sometimes it doesn't if it is a really bad knee injury.”

Until a scan took place, though, Comer had to deal with the uncertainty. “When it hadn't swollen up I was thinking it might be a positive, but knowing my luck with injuries in the last while I'd surely get the full brunt of it,” he adds. “Thankfully it was grand and fine. It didn't swell.

“I was waiting around for scans - once I got the scan and results I was delighted, just bad bone bruising and stretched ligaments, but nothing too severe. It was good news from the scan result.”

So Comer was delighted to get a run out against Kerry in Sunday’s victory over Kerry at Pearse Stadium. “It was good to be back on the pitch,” Comer says.

Galway's Damien Comer suffered a knee injury against Roscommon on February 5. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile

Galway's Damien Comer suffered a knee injury against Roscommon on February 5. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile

“I suppose when the injury happened initially, my initial fears were that my season was over. It was great to get minutes under the belt and to be back so soon, I'm delighted with that.”

The fact that Galway have reached the league decider against Mayo despite the fact that several key players were unavailable for a significant portion of the league provides a source of optimism. Emerging and returning players have made an impact for Galway.

“Every cloud has a silver lining,” Comer says. “We've had a few injuries, we had a turbulent time with Moycullen boys coming back late, Shane (Walsh) was away, I got injured in the second game,” Comer says.

“A few lads picked up niggles along the way, different things. We've had to adapt and deal with that. It makes you dig into your squad.

“We would have been criticised last year for not having that depth on the bench, fair play to the management team they have went after that this year and they have found a good few lads.

“Even losing Liam Silke, Finian Ó Laoi, and Kieran Molloy coming back from injury so it has contributed to how deep our squad is now, which is a positive.”

Damien Comer made a welcome return to Allianz Football League action for Galway against Kerry at Pearse Stadium. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Damien Comer made a welcome return to Allianz Football League action for Galway against Kerry at Pearse Stadium. Photo by Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Reaching the 2022 All-Ireland SFC Final illustrated the potential within Pádraic Joyce’s team. Momentum has been generated with Comer acknowledging the interest, hope, and expectation that surrounds football in Galway again.

“It is great, there is a bit of a buzz around the place, a bit of excitement,” Comer responds. “Last year epitomised that, even in my own club, Annaghdown GAA, the place was gone mad.

“We hadn't seen before or certainly for a long time since the good days of '98 and 2001, to get that buzz around football in Galway is really important.

“I suppose it is what the sport needed, there has been a few dark days in the maroon and white. It is probably what everyone wanted. Even now the crowd in Salthill for the last day for the Galway and Kerry game was great and I'm sure there will be big numbers in Croker again on Sunday.

“It is great, it is where we want to be as players, competing for a National League title or competing for Sam. You want to be at the business end of whatever you're playing, it is positive.”

Comer is ready, willing, and able to deliver for Galway.