Armagh midfielder John Toal is determined to play in next year's championship, despite being unable to walk after suffering a horror leg injury in this year's drawn Ulster final against Tyrone. Toal broke his leg in the match, but surgeons told him following an operation to repair the damage that he could easily have faced amputation. "It was only after they opened me up that they realised how much damage was done. I came very close to losing my leg," the 26-year-old revealed. "It was a shock. They told me this after the operation. My whole knee had to be reconstructed. I lost my cruciate ligament, the lateral ligament and a bag of fluid. "I ripped the calf muscle and hamstring that was attached to my knee. I also lost a massive chunk of cartilage. "The only thing that was left in my knee was a nerve and a blood vessel. They told me that if the blood vessel had been damaged, they would have been cutting my leg off." Toal is currently undergoing intensive daily physiotherapy on his knee and feels he is on course for a summer return to action, despite being unable to walk unaided. "My consultant Chris Connolly has been first class. It was a massive operation and he has done everything perfectly. "It's coming along well. I've kept working at it. My first goal is to walk. My second goal is to get back to work. My ultimate goal is to be back for the start of the championship. If I continue going the way I am, I'm hoping that I'll make it." Toal has been well looked after by the Armagh county board who, as well as looking after his financial commitments, are sending him to the world-renowned sports institute in Lilleshall for further treatment on his injury. Tweet

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