Football

Down physio Frank Quinn questions GAA injury treatment clause

Down's Benny Coulter signs autographs for fans during a special team evening in Newry ahead of their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Cork. Picture by Cliff Donaldson
Down's Benny Coulter signs autographs for fans during a special team evening in Newry ahead of their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Cork. Picture by Cliff Donaldson Down's Benny Coulter signs autographs for fans during a special team evening in Newry ahead of their All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final against Cork. Picture by Cliff Donaldson

IN 2005, a nagging groin injury meant Benny Coulter was depending on pain killers to get him through games.

Frank Quinn, Down’s Chartered Physiotherapist, sourced a surgeon in Germany who had successfully treated Premier League soccer stars Michael Owen and Frank Lampard and Coulter travelled there for an operation.

Four weeks later, he was back in full training and the GAA Players’ Injury Fund covered the cost of his treatment.

Five years later, Coulter was marching behind the Artane Band on All-Ireland final day and playing some of the best football of his career.

Read more:GAA explains decision behind injury treatment clause

Meanwhile, Paul McComiskey had gone to see a consultant seeking treatment for a back injury and was advised to retire.

Dundrum forward McComiskey went for a second opinion in England, was referred for treatment and returned to full fitness.

He played alongside Coulter in the 2010 All-Ireland final and scored three points.

Arguably, the surgery in Germany saved Coulter’s career and going for a second opinion did the same for McComiskey.

There are other players from other counties who could tell similar tales but following in their footsteps is now much more difficult and Quinn, who accepted an invitation to return this year as the Down physio, is concerned because of the GAA’s decision to limit the Players’ Injury Benefit Fund to injury treatments received on the island of Ireland.

“The cost of surgery is the same in England as it is here,” said Quinn, who would welcome more freedom of choice when deciding where to have the surgery carried out.

Quinn points out that the time needed for a player’s recovery can be a big factor in the decision.

“Cruciate reconstruction costs the same, hernia repairs are the same… It’s not a cost issue.

“There are consultants across the water who are getting more regular practice with certain types of injuries,” he explained.

“In the sports medicine world, if you have a certain injury, one consultant can say: ‘I’ll have you back in six months’ and somebody else can say: ‘The type of surgery I do has you back in four months’ and from a professional sports person’s point of view, that’s the one they will go for.”

“Across the water, they have more experience (of dealing with injuries) because of the numbers they’re operating with – they are working with soccer, rugby, rugby league… All sorts of sports.’’

Read more:GAA explains decision behind injury treatment clause

Having worked at Sunderland FC as well as with the North East England Rugby squads and gymnastics academy and Durham County Cricket Club, Hilltown native Quinn, part of the Physio Group, has a vast reservoir of experience in physiotherapy.