In my head I still feel young.. my body is good to go
COMER COMING INTO ‘24 SEASON WITH THE FIRM BELIEF HE CAN GET BACK TO HIS BEST
THERE’S a frustration there with Damien Comer that Galway fans will share.
When people talk about the most influential players in the country, Comer’s is a name that should be up near the top of the list.
The Annaghdown man has been plagued with injuries since he scared the life out of peak Jim Gavin Dublin in the 2018 League final and All-ireland semi-final.
With Comer fit Galway have an elite powerful, direct ball winner inside, who allows them to play more directly.
Without him, they’ve lacked that added dimension to their play.
He turned 30 a fortnight ago, but it hasn’t altered his outlook.
Staying injury free and getting fit is where it’s at: “It’s (about) listening to your body,” he says.
“If your body feels good, you’re good to go.
“It wouldn’t really change my mindset. Probably the one thing you realise is the fact that you haven’t as much time left as you think.
“I still feel like I’m in my early 20s. I think I’m going into my 11th season with Galway so it doesn’t be long going.
“It gives you that realisation that you never know how long you have left playing at this level.
“You have to make the most of every opportunity and just enjoy whatever days and years you have left playing for Galway.”
Comer’s hamstring problems last year were one of the reasons Galway exited at the All-ireland preliminary quarter-final stage, after making the All-ireland final the year before.
He hasn’t had the chance to give his best consistently, and he says last season fell “well below the expectations of our group.”
“It (2023) was fairly frustrating on a personal level,” he says. “It was very much a case of play a game, miss a game.
“I’ve got a good preseason under me now so I’m looking forward to the Allianz League and trying to get back to where I was a couple of years ago. Hopefully all the injuries are behind me.”
Comer, more than anyone has always appeared to relish going to war with fierce rivals Mayo.
Having to sit back and watch a second half where Kevin Mcstay’s (inset) side ended their season at Pearse Stadium last June wasn’t easy.
“It was just a matter of hoping,” he says.
“I gave what I could give in the first half. Early on in the game, the hamstring was under a bit of pressure.
“One of the first or second balls that I had to sprint for, it kind of went again.
“I had only 10 days of rehab done really so I was probably going to be under pressure for the full game anyway.
“But it was hard to watch on. I suppose there were opportunities there.
“With Salthill there was a gale-force wind and it was with Mayo in the second half so it was going to be a struggle for our lads.
They battled well but we probably just weren’t clinical enough on the day.”