Dermot Earley

Going to be a long and tricky road back for the big man as the article suggests. Lets just all pray it goes well for him over the next few months and we see him back next year

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-football/earley-upbeat-over-recovery-in-bid-to-bloom-late-for-lilies-2406889.html

Testament to Dermots dedication to both club and county that he still holds out hope of playing sometime again next year, hard to find another inter county footballer who had as much misfortune as Dermot has had over the years through injury, illness and bereavement.

But does anyone think that this steely determination he possesses might have been counter productive in the long run, maybe coming back too soon when possibly those injuries needed a few more months to heal?.
Who could forget the emotion of the Antrim game in Newbridge when he put in an exhaustive effort only hours after burying his father until his body eventually could offer no more!.
Soldier on man if you can [forgive the pun], but I for one won't blame you if you decide enough is enough.

The man is a warrior and a fighter and i dont expect him to do anything other than to fight to the death to play again. Thats whats fighers do.
However as you said KC if he decides to hang up the boots, no one could possibly question it.
He has been an unbelievable force for Kildare, the likes of which we may never see again.

A true servant of the game.

Is it not obvious that he has no intention of hanging up his boots? Of course, if the decision is made for him next year, well and good, although I reckon he'd just look ahead to the year after. He'd be 34. But it does look like he'll need everything to go his way to be playing a role next year.

The big man will have a role to play on the panel next year even if it is not on the pitch. When he had to come off in the Meath game he showed his worth on the side line and this will be the least he will do next year, but lets hope he is back pulling balls from the sky sometime soon.