Former Cork footballer Damien O'Neill is recovering in a US hospital after a weekend assault left him in a coma.

The 37-year-old was in Boston with his wife Valerie and four children attending the wedding of his brother-in-law when the incident occurred on Friday night. His father Terry O'Neill, who is a selector with the Cork senior football team, said he got the news as he travelled to Croke Park on Saturday.

"I was on the way to Dublin for the match when I heard the news so it was a bit nerve-wracking," he said.

A nephew of Declan Barron who won an All-Ireland senior medal with Cork in 1973, Damien was introduced as a sub in Cork's 1991 All-Ireland minor victory before going on to captain the Rebels to Munster and All-Ireland under 21 success in 1994. The Bantry Blues clubman now owns a successful construction company called Willowford Developments.

Bantry Blues senior football team selector Dr Denis Cotter said: "Damien is a local hero. He was the best man at my wedding and he's still playing football with the club. He is very fit and we hope that stands to him. Our prayers are with him and his family."

Damien has made significant progress and doctors are hopeful he will be discharged in two weeks' time. Tweet

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