‘I never experienced pain like it,’ says injured player

THE young Owen Roes gaelic footballer who sustained an horrific ankle injury during their Intermediate semi-final on Saturday night is hoping he’ll be able to attend the refixed tie this weekend.

Ryan Devine (26) from Glenmornan has recounted the immediate aftermath of the collision which left him lying on the Healy Park pitch for almost an hour before the emergency services arrived.

A donation for the Air Ambulance – which was called to the scene – will be taken in lieu of an entrance fee when the north Tyrone side take on Gortin in the replayed tie on Saturday evening, when Ryan, or ‘Ricki’ as he’s also known, intends watching from the stand.

“Unfortunately, I remember everything about what happened. I was tackling the Gortin player and whatever way we turned our legs became entangled. Before we hit the ground, the ankle was wrecked,” he said.

“I’ve never had pain like it before, and I was conscious the whole time. The club physio was over straight away, or Dr O’Flaherty and Dr McMullan from Omagh were with me. I had a fair idea that the injury was bad right away because my brother was beside me and shouted for the stretcher immediately.

“The pain was there the whole time, and the medical people were trying to get me to breathe properly. It was 6.40pm by the time I left Healy Park in the ambulance, and the injury happened just after the match start an hour earlier, but I didn’t really notice the time to be honest.”

The Air Ambulance was dispatched to the scene and administered emergency aid to Ryan before he was taken by ambulance to Altnagevlin.

Several thousand spectators, including many in attendance for the county senior semi-final clash that followed, clapped as he was taken away.

He will have to return to hospital in the coming days to see the full extent of the damage done to the angle, which is still badly swollen.

“I was that far through I could only hear the Air Ambulance. They put the ankle back in place and did all the hard work, and thank God both them and the paramedics from the Ambulance Service were there to help,” he added.

“I’ve got medication at the moment to help with the pain, and would just like to say thanks to everyone who sent me messages. People from all around Tyrone and boys from America and Glasgow have got in contact.

“Cathal McShane has been in touch and a few of the Tyrone lads were in contact with him asking how I was doing.

“Roney McNamee was in contact with me as well which was good.

“Hopefully I’ll be able to get to the match supporting them and I won’t be happy if I’m not there.”