Northern Switchgear Antrim Senior Football Final
By Brendan McTaggart
Osteitis pubis. No, I haven’t started to write in a foreign language. It’s the medical term and reason why Kevin O’Boyle has been on the sidelines for Cargin since the county final, 12 months ago. To say it’s been challenging would be downplaying the extent of the Cargin and Antrim defender’s injury. It’s been a year of questions. Finding a diagnosis, the treatments and the next steps. The usual steps for any athlete but for Kobo, he’s had to clear hurdles and run through brick walls.
“It’s something that’s more common in 14 to 16 year olds. Anyone who might be going through a growth spurt too quick but it also happens to anyone who’s taking too much out of themselves and their body reacts in this way.” The former Antrim captain told us a bit more about the groin injury that has seen him on the side lines for the better part of the last year. “The games being played and not enough recovery time was a major factor. Even look at the Ulster championship last year, we played in Newry on the Saturday night and then the next day we were playing Lámh Dhearg.
“It (the injury) happened early in the year when I was playing for the county. I was managing it with steroid injections at that time but those might have worn off during the game and it was a matter of getting more.
“It was a matter of getting through the championship last year. After the county final and we got over the line, my body couldn’t give any more.
“It was tough to admit that for the Ulster club but at the end of the day I had to do what was best for the team. There were other boys in our squad who were better placed to have more of an impact than I was. It was a tough decision but it was a matter of putting the team first.”
The long road to recovery started then for Kobo and it was far from straight forward. Rehab, a false start, physio and ultimately an operation. The Cargin man told us: “It’s worse than a cruciate injury, without a doubt. With a cruciate, there’s a set plan and time frame. You know where you should be after a certain time and you work towards that. With Osteitis Pubis the time frame and treatment all vary.
“I tried rehab and physio in pre-season and it still wasn’t right. I had an operation in England with Dr David Lloyd. He’s operated on a lot of premier league footballers and is a specialist in the area.
“I was hoping for a quick fix. I wanted back in a few weeks or a month but it wasn’t going to be that easy. It was a matter of going back to rehab and the physio.”
With the nature of his injury and ultimately dealing with the unknown, Kobo was facing a mental as well as physical battle: “My ultimate aim was to be back playing for the championship but the pain was that severe I was changing my goals. I just wanted to be doing the normal things in life again without pain. To be able to play with my daughter, go for a run or play a bit of indoor football at a push. Championship football was far from my mind and that’s not that long ago.
“Every week and sometimes every day I noticed a difference though. The rehab with Martin Loughran (physio) was tough but it was about getting the right balance between rest and pushing your body that wee bit more each time.
“The communication between Damien (Cassidy), Martin (Loughran) and me has been crucial in it all. We were all working together and in constant contact, Damien has a huge amount of faith in Martin and that helped me to put my trust and faith in him but that was tough, physically and mentally. You start to wonder is this it? Is that me done?”
As he pushed himself more, the 31 year old told us that things began to transform fairly quickly and ultimately he got the green light for a starting place against St Galls: “The weeks progressed and I did a wee bit more each time. At the start of September, I started doing a bit at training and see how my body was adapting to it. It’s only probably two or three weeks before the St Galls game that I was playing a full part in training.
“At that stage I just wanted to play a part in training. Luckily enough I was able to do a bit more each time. I played 40 minutes in the reserve championship against Creggan but I was in severe pain after that but it gave me more confidence that I could get back to where I wanted to be. Playing in that match was good, it’s difficult to replicate that match scenario in training and it was another step.
“When Damien rang me and told me he was throwing me in, I was delighted. It came as a shock but I was confident that I could do a job for how long the team needed me for. It was a massive reward for everyone who helped me get to this stage and Lauren, my wife. She had to listen to all my frustrations for the last year and it was frustrating but football is a massive part of my life and she knew that I would be happy when I’m back out on the field.
“I had that feeling of being on the outside looking in and not feeling like I was part of the group. It was brilliant just to be able to lift my kit bag when going to training again.”
The match against St Galls was just reward for Kobo after the long and arduous journey to get to that point in his recovery. He’s still not taking anything for granted ahead of Sunday’s final and still isn’t sure on what the future holds for him in the sport: “I played for 55 minutes (against St Galls) and it was still a learning curve on how my body would react to that but I’ve rested and trained again. I’m taking nothing for granted though, if I’m handed a starting jersey on Sunday I’ll be delighted.
“That decision isn’t up to me though. It’s up to Damien and if I get the call then I’ll be delighted.
“I know that by starting against St Galls I was denying someone else that place and it didn’t feel right but that’s where our squad are so good. We’re all behind whoever starts, just like I was back against Gaoth Dobhair in the Ulster club. It’s been a crazy, difficult year but it was an unbelievable feeling to be back playing in a Cargin shirt in the championship again.
“My body was completely wrecked. I don’t know if I’ll have to go through it all again next year at this stage. I’m looking no further forward than the next game and I’m doing whatever my body will allow me to be ready for this match.”
Despite the injury, the rehab, the setbacks, operation and more rehab, Kobo was adamant. It was all worth it. It wasn’t a question of should I, it was a matter of how will I. He continued: “It’s more of a culture in Cargin, a way of life. I was fortunate enough to be part of a team who were successful growing up and football is all we know. It’s what we live and breathe. When I waken up, it’s the first thought I have and it’s what my world revolves around.
“As long as I’m able, I will and if I can, I will.”
The winner of four Antrim championships, the Cargin defender looks forward to Sunday and the chance to add to his collection. “I’ve won four championships but I couldn’t tell you how many I’ve lost in. We probably should have won more but we came up against a very, very good St Galls team in that era.
“Sunday should be a great game. The Antrim championship with the seeding is hugely competitive and we’re hoping for a great game. We had a tough game against St Galls in the semi-final and Lámh Dhearg had three big games against Portglenone.
“Tiredness may be a factor for them but nothing can come close to playing in those matches and having the experience of playing in matches of that nature. It can’t be replicated. We’re wary of them and what they’ll bring, we have a massive amount of respect for Lámh Dhearg and I’m sure they’re the same for us.
“You just have to look at their side. The two Murray brothers, Paddy Cunningham, Decky Lynch, Owen McKeown is flying and Marc Jordan has been incredible since coming back from the Middle East. He’s bigger, stronger and like lightning. Then you have the Lord Mayor protecting the goals, they are a formidable team but these are the games you want to play in. You train to play in big games like these and Sunday’s massive for us.”
Tested to his limits, mentally and physically, Sunday presents Kobo with a chance to come full circle.