A life-changing injury which left a Meath football fan in a wheelchair didn’t stop him from bringing home a coveted GAA championship cup - as the motivational club captain.
John O’Brien, 29, used his sports psychology training to help the Nobber side to victory against Trim in the final of the Mattie McDonnell Intermediate Championship Cup, which now takes pride of place in his specially-adapted home, funded by the community after his accident in 2012.
A trip for a bag of chips after football ended in tragedy when his car collided with cattle on the N3 between Navan and Kells and he suffered spinal chord injuries which left him paralysed from the chest down.
His positive outlook after the accident and his determination to continue his dreams led to him being asked to be the team’s club captain earlier this year and motivate the players in training and before matches.
“I’ve little recollection of the accident. We went into Navan for a bag of chips after football and I just didn’t see the cattle. I guess one of the cows must have landed on the roof and I remembered thinking I didn’t want to die,” he said.
“When I was in the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire, I was told straight out that my chances of walking again were slim to nothing.
“It was hard to take. I went through a range of emotions from anger and rage to sadness and self-pity but then I reached a point where I realised those emotions weren’t getting me anywhere.
“They were dark times but that’s over now.
“I had to adapt to my new circumstances. I had to decide to either lie down or get up and push on and I did.”
As a stalwart Manchester United soccer fan, John’s decision to be positive was boosted by a letter of support from former coach Sir Alex Ferguson with two match tickets to see the team play Manchester City at Old Trafford.
“That match didn’t end well for us,” he laughed, adding "but it was a step in the right direction for me".
A huge community drive to raise €250,000 has resulted in John being able to live independently in his own extension, at the side of his family home.
“All football clubs in Meath, Louth, Monaghan and Cavan chipped in as well as neighbours and friends. Everyone was amazing with the support they gave me
“When I was asked to be club manager earlier this year, I felt it was a way of giving back to the community a bit of what they gave me."
His drive didn’t stop there and he is now in the middle of studying social care and counselling in Cavan.
