Meath legend Graham Geraghty has recalled the horrific experience of being struck down with a brain haemorrhage and aneurysm after falling ill at work last October.

The two-time All-Ireland winner was rushed to Our Lady's Hospital in Navan with a bleed on the brain and later transferred to Dublin's Beaumont Hospital where he underwent a seven-and-a-half-hour operation to save his life.

He spent over two weeks in hospital with no visitors permitted due to Covid-19 restrictions. Geraghty recounted a moment during his recovery when the pain was so severe that he had enough.

“The first week of the recovery was horrific,“ Geraghty told BBC Sounds’ The GAA Social podcast.

“On a scale of 1-10 the pain was probably 15. I couldn't stick it - at one stage I was in so much pain I just said 'I've had enough, if you want to take me, take me'.

“Because of Covid I didn't see any family or friends in my 16 days in hospital. A lot of things go through your mind - are you going to see your family and friends again?“

But the 48-year-old has fought back from the brink and is now a selector in Bernard Flynn's Meath U20 football backroom team for 2021.

“I’m generally good. I get very tired, a couple of naps a day, I still have to. I usually get up at about half seven, quarter to eight and by 12 o’clock I’d have to lie down again for half an hour. If I do anything I feel quite faint or get dizzy.

“Then that goes again when I sit down or rest. I’d take that any day. I could have been paralysed, loss of limbs, speech or anything like that. I count myself very lucky.”

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