Michael Meehan is disappointed that his season is over but hasn't ruled out an intercounty return.

The brilliant Galway attacker has opted to take the rest of the year off due to a chronic ankle problem but has his fingers crossed that he might get to don the maroon shirt again some time in the future.

"It is frustrating and it is disappointing to have to step aside," the 29-year-old says in The Irish Independent. "There is a serious bit of damage done to my ankle.

"I played a lot of football last year but it took a lot out of the ankle. It feels as if I am a long way away from getting anywhere near intercounty football.

"The best thing for me right now is to step aside and hopefully let things settle and maybe try and get back at a slower pace to club football initially, and if it goes well then we will see after that.

"I have a good medical team supporting me all the way through this and it is as much for myself at this stage to take a break from it and see how we can get going again, if we can get it going again.

"It has been a management thing over the years and that is what I am going to try to do again this year but from a much slower base.

"The hardest part is not being able to play, not being able to contribute. It is much easier to play a game than watch a game.

"If I thought I could be in a position to help them I would, but [full fitness] is too far away and after that I don't know, so we will just see how it goes.

"There is structural damage done and I have had surgery two or three times on it. There is certainly damage done that is irreparable at this stage." Tweet

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