Three victims of the dreaded cruciate while in their 30s...

HENRY SHEFFLIN 2010, age 31

When he made his comeback in a training match prior to the 2010 All-Ireland final, it led to utter traffic chaos in Kilkenny as word got out. He had looked doomed when he sustained the injury — his second in three years — in that year’s All-Ireland semi-final against Cork, but Brian Cody gambled on not going down the surgical route and the great man togged out in the final against Tipperary as the Cats chased five-in-a-row. He would last just 14 minutes as Kilkenny fell, but went on to find redemption two years later when named Hurler of the Year for the third time.

COLM COOPER 2014, age 31

He was in his prime when he was cut down. The previous August he had given a master class in play-making in the All-Ireland semi-final, but when he fell victim to a crude tackle playing for Dr Croke’s against Castlebar Mitchels, he would never reach those heights again. He sustained a broken knee-cap to go with a ruptured cruciate, and when he returned he showed flashes of brilliance but was no longer the sustained force of old.

DERMOT EARLEY 2011, age 31

The two-time All-Star sustained the injury in training, but rehab would prove traumatic. He had to undergo surgery twice in a bid to address the issue and although he eventually made it back it would not be for long. He retired in mid-2013 as he conceded defeat to a succession of injuries which had taken their toll.