‘You think ‘I’m never going to get back’’ – Neil Farrugia relieved injury woe is over as he seeks to kick on with Shamrock Rovers

Farrugia’s season had the worst possible start as he suffered a shoulder injury, while landing on the ground after battling for the ball, on the opening day of the season at home to Dundalk.

The worst was feared for the Dubliner who has missed chunks of his previous four and a half seasons with the Hoops due to a number of medical issues, but the diagnosis was better as damage was limited and while he did miss 12 games, he was fit to return on Friday, as a second half sub in the 1-1 draw with Bohemians.

“It's tough mentally because I had pre-season, started the game well and you're ready, you're on top of it all and then out of nowhere, you're like: 'What just happened?' I had a good pre-season and then all of a sudden, I'm in a hospital getting my shoulder popped back in,” he said.

“It was just unlucky and I guess you have to enjoy it while you can because you don't know what's going to happen,” says the former Ireland U21 cap ahead of the Hoops’ game at home to Waterford today (5pm).

“I've had a fair few injuries. With the shoulder, it was bad for about three weeks. I was bed-bound, needed help to get around, couldn't drive, and that was tough.

“But once I got moving and a bit of mobility back, I was back on the pitch fairly quickly because it was an upper limb injury.

“Then all of a sudden it was about being safe and keeping the risk low of falling down again. So I was back on the pitch fairly quickly again.

“With the hamstring, you could be a while. So to be fair, mentally, it wasn't the worst because I've been there and also, because I was back on the pitch fairly quickly.

“For the first two weeks, you think doom and gloom. 'I'm never going to get back' et cetera. But once you get over that and start training, (you think) do you know what?

“I'm going to get back. And then make sure that when I'm back, I'm back at my best. That's all you can do really,” he added.

While the Hoops camp were frustrated with a return of one point from a derby away to Bohs that they dominated in terms of possession, the night had major pluses with the return from injury of Farrugia, Markus Poom and in particular Jack Byrne who made his first appearance of the season, only his second outing since July.

There was more bad news on the injury front, though, as midfielders Darragh Burns and Dylan Watts both took knocks in the derby

“Both came through it well and both did well. You want to put them on earlier, give them more time, but you’re conscious both have been out for a long time as well,” he said.

“It’s about trying to get that balance. But Jack and Neil are fine which is great, but unfortunately, we’ve lost both Dylan and Darragh for the Waterford game.

“Dylan’s is frustrating as we’ve known for a number of weeks, he’s been in that red zone of walking that line of getting injured. We tried to protect him, last Monday taking him off, but all the minutes he’s played have caught up with him, he’s been brilliant.

“With Darragh Burns, we’re not too sure how he is yet, but he’s also played a lot of minutes, but hopefully it’s not too bad,” manager Stephen Bradley said.

Rovers have conceded just one goal in the last three home games but Bradley is wary of the visiting Blues outfit coached by Keith Long.

“You look at Waterford’s threats, they have some really good ones in the final third, what you get with Keith Long’s teams is they’re well organised. You combine those two and you know it will be a difficult game,” Bradley added.