Ciaran McDonald has spoken about how he overcame serious injury to become only the fourth Tipperary footballer to be called up to the Ireland International Rules squad.

The recently-qualified doctor jetted out to Melbourne yesterday with the rest of the Ireland squad for Saturday week's single Test match against Australia in Perth. If, as expected, he features in that game, he will follow in the footsteps of fellow county men Derry Foley, Brian Burke and Declan Browne in winning an International Rules cap.

"It was always a game I would like to have played. It appeals to me because there's a bit more physicality than Gaelic. It's a game that would actually appeal to my strengths as a Gaelic footballer," he said at a press briefing in Carton House, Maynooth.

"The increased physicality is something I enjoy and there are taggers or whatever, man markers. That would be considered my strength in Tipperary and both combined would not be a bad trait for this game."

The highly-rated defender also recalled how he had been told by medics he would never play football again due to a hip problem, only to prove them wrong after two operations.

"I had bi-lateral hip surgery," the 25-year-old explained.

"I wasn't meant to play again. I was getting progressive pain in my hip throughout the season.

"Luckily enough, I had a good medical team around me. They referred me on to a specialist. The extent of the injury was consistent with incapacity to play field sports. I was very down over that.

 

"I was fortunate that I had work to fall back on. I became totally consumed in my work. I had great support too from my girlfriend."

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