On Wednesday Liam Dunne told SportsJOE it “wasn’t looking good” for James Breen.
The corner-back had played a stormer against Cork as Wexford ended their 60-year wait for a win over the Rebels, doing an excellent job of marshalling Cork dangerman Alan Cadogan.
The Adamstown clubman’s performance was all the more remarkable for the fact he was struggling with a bout of viral meningitis at the time.
Ill in the run-up to the Round 2 qualifier in Thurles, Breen insisted he was fit to play but in the days after the game his condition worsened and he was admitted to University Hospital Waterford.
Released earlier this week the chances of the corner-back lining up against Waterford in the All-Ireland quarter-final in Semple Stadium at 2pm on Sunday seemed miniscule, especially after Wexford manager Dunne’s prognosis.
Broken toes, broken hands, viral meningitis… not gonna keep these tough nuts off the pitch https://t.co/NDMb2IGDm5
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) July 22, 2016
However, in an exclusive interview with SportsJOE, Wexford centre-forward Lee Chin revealed that Breen was back training midweek in preparation for the Déise.
“He was back training the other night. That’s James Breen for you, great attitude as well, so determined,” said the Faythe Harriers man.
“The man had meningitis when he was playing against Cork, but he’s a hardy bit of stuff, that lad. You’ll never get to the bottom of him.”
Sometimes people just say things like “he’s a hardy bit of stuff” and it means nothing. Not in this case. Breen played against Cork in an All-Ireland qualifier with viral meningitis.
You’ll never get to the bottom of him.
The full exclusive Lee Chin interview will be available on SportsJOE Sunday morning.
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