Paddy Barrett was ‘fearing the worst for a moment’ when Lee Desmond suffered that sickening head injury.
But he insists the St Pat’s dressing room has never been more united after seeing his defensive partner walk into the training ground this week.
There was concern for Desmond when he was knocked unconscious after a collision late in Friday’s 2-1 win over Waterford.
The match was stopped for 10 minutes while medics treated him on Richmond Park pitch before taking him to nearby St James’s hospital.
Desmond revealed this week that he lost his speech and vision in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
But thankfully it soon returned and he then got the all clear from brain scans.
As his centre-back partner, Barrett was one of the first on the scene and said: “You get a right when you see bad injuries and serious situations on TV.
“You think of Christian Eriksen and incidents like that. You feel shook. But when you see something up so close, it’s a different level.
“He’s my partner and I was right beside him. You feel part of it because it’s happening right beside you.
“I didn’t know what was going to happen because up close, it probably looks way worse than it ended up being. You’re fearing the worst for a moment.
“It was the scariest moment I’ve ever had in football to see something so dangerous like that. You feel helpless.”
And Barrett revealed how you could hear a pin drop in the Saints dressing room after the game.
“Usually after a win you’d be giving a few high fives and the manager would be saying well done but there was nothing but pure concern over Lee’s well being.”
But a nasty facial wound aside, Desmond made a full recovery and returned to St Pat’s training ground at Ballyoulster United in Celbridge on Monday.
He can’t play for a while yet as he follows the return to play concussion protocols but Barrett said: “When he walked into the training ground, I was just in awe.
“I couldn’t believe that he was up and talking after such horrific scenes a couple of days before.
“To see him walking, talking and getting his mind back together to remember things was unbelievable to see.
“His face looks rough but you can have some banter and he can give and take it. It brings you closer because he’s your team-mate and your friend.
“He’ll make a full recovery and we can’t wait to see him back on the pitch soon.”
Tonight, St Pat’s can return to share of the Premier Division lead if they win away to Finn Harps in Donegal.
But Barrett warned: “Everyone in Irish football knows that Ballybofey is a difficult place to go. It has been for years and won’t ever change.”
“They’re a good side and we need to be at it 100%. Anything less and it won’t be good enough for us.”
