Huge show of support as star Limerick hurler Peter Casey undergoes surgery in Santry

“OUR HEARTS stopped. When you see one of your players waving their arms, knowing they are in pain and distress... we all held our breath for him.”

The words of Na Piarsaigh GAA club secretary Lavinia Duggan, as Peter Casey undergoes surgery in Dublin following a serious ankle injury which marred Limerick’s Munster Championship win over Tipperary on Sunday.

“The whole of Limerick is with him,” said Frankie Daly, a close friend and clubmate of Peter’s.

Limerick GAA county board said this week that the star forward would require surgery for the devastating injury - a broken ankle - with sources indicating he was transferred by ambulance to the UPMC Sports Surgery Clinic (SSC) in Santry, Dublin on Monday.

He was expected to undergo surgery this Tuesday or Wednesday.

One of the first people to visit him on Sunday evening at University Hospital Limerick - where he was immediately transferred to - was his brother Mike who himself has had a bad run with injuries.

A photograph shared online shows Peter - injured in the process of scoring Limerick’s second goal - giving a thumbs up with his leg in cast and a smile on his face.

“No matter who you support, it's a terrible thing to see someone being injured so severely,” said Clareview man Martin Doyle, a clubmate of Peter’s.

For the Caherdavin club, the loss feels doubly painful, given the starring role Peter has played in its sustained period of county success. The club described him on social media as “a true Limerick and Na Piarsaigh role model.”

“As a club, our hearts were on the pitch with him. Everyone’s concern was for Peter. Was he OK? You also felt for his family looking at that. As a mother, to see your son in such pain, you want to go and look after him,” added club secretary Lavinia.

Martin said he knew it was a serious injury when two women sat next to him began to cry.

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“We went back to the club after the game, and that’s all everyone was talking about. After it happened, the match just fizzled out,” he said.

Attacker Peter has been particularly unfortunate with injury in the past having ruptured a cruciate ligament during the 2021 All-Ireland win over Cork.

He returned the following season as Limerick completed the three-in-a-row against Kilkenny, before 12 months later turning in a man-of-the-match performance as Limerick beat the Cats to win Liam MacCarthy on a fourth straight occasion.