A former Meath ladies footballer who suffered a fractured skull and horrific facial injuries in a random attack in New York two years ago has claimed "the GAA saved my life".

Alisha Jordan's life was turned upside down when she was attacked by a man as she and a friend made their way home from a night out in Woodlawn in the early hours of July 14, 2012. With a single blow, the then 18-year-old's attacker had broken her nose, skull, teeth and cheekbone.

It took eight hours of surgery, 10 metal plates and 22 screws to rebuild her skull and a further operation to recreate her nose.

"I was faced with major reconstructive surgeries on my face and obviously it was a devastating thing to go through. But when I was woken from my first surgery, the first question I asked the doctor was 'can I play football again?' Alisha is quoted in the Irish Daily Star.

"Although he laughed at the question, I knew it wasn't a 'no' so I held out hope from there. I worked very hard every day, even when I lost my sight for a few weeks. I never once thought 'I'm never going to play again'.

Alisha has since resumed her playing career with the Cavan ladies team in the Big Apple.

"I can easily say that Gaelic football saved my life," she added.

Alisha, who hails from a well-known Skyrne GAA family, suffered further heartbreak when her father John Joe passed away recently. Tweet

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