Davy Fitzgerald reveals punctured lung scare for Banner star

"We don't know how it happened. He was putting on his jersey (in Thurles). There was a bit of panic inside because he couldn't breathe.

"And Oisin being Oisin, he tried to come out on the field and still couldn't breathe. "I had to walk him in out of the field that day. He was on his knees inside in the dressing-room."

O'Brien was cared for by the Clare medics and his condition gradually improved after throw-in. He was replaced by Jack Browne for a replay that was thrillingly won by Clare. As it transpired, O'Brien travelled on to Austria for a short break soon after the replay. Once there, he received the news that - following hospital scans - he was walking around Austria with a punctured lung. He checked himself into a hospital there and underwent surgery to repair his damaged lung. He is back in fine fettle and trained with the Banner squad on Wednesday. Close call though.