Last weekend Galway footballer Michael Meehan announced he would miss the entire football season, dealing Galway a massive blow at a time when the county are desperate for a boost. It’s an injury he has been battling for four years, but he still hasn’t given up hope of returning to the Galway shirt in the future. Tonight he spoke to Off the Ball about his injury and his hopes for return.

Meehan’s announcement follows on from a long battle to regain fitness following a November operation on an ankle injury and the decision came about as the hectic schedule of training and matches at inter-county level meant he was making no gains in his efforts to heal his injury.

Meehan says he was, “just making no progress so far this year with my injury and I felt that maybe the best thing to do was take a break.”

Meehan’s decision to announce he is taking a year out, rather than retiring, was a consicous one as he holds onto hope he can reurn to fitness and make a return at some stage.

“I suppose I could have retired but I Just wanted to leave the door maybe half ajar. If things can come right for me, you know get back playing club maybe this year, maybe pick it up from there. There’s a small chance, but while that chance was there I didn’t want to close the door.”

Listen to the interview with Michael Meehan on tonight’s Off the Ball via the player below or download on iTunes