A promising young GAA player is in a critical condition in a US hospital after suffering a severe head injury during a club football game in San Francisco over the weekend.
Mark McGovern (22) from the Belcoo O'Rahilly's club in Fermanagh was taken to hospital after an altercation on Saturday evening, while playing his debut for Ulster GAA club San Francisco.
The player is understood to have clashed with another player on the opposing Celts side.
Mr McGovern had travelled to San Francisco to play football for the summer with two other Belcoo team-mates, Emmet Scollan and Ciaran Flaherty, who also played in Saturday’s game.
Mr McGovern parents have travelled to San Francisco to be by their son’s bedside.
A statement from Belcoo O'Rahilly's said: “Mark suffered a severe head injury during his debut for Ulster GAA San Francisco on Saturday night and he has been in a coma since.”
“Two other Belcoo Club players who recently made the journey to America to play football for the summer, Emmet Scollan and Ciaran Flaherty where playing the the same game and they have been at Mark's bedside since.”
“Messages of support have been overwhelming but we would like to keep the three lads in our prayers and we hope Mark comes around shortly and he can make a full recovery,” it said.
McGovern, who is on the fringes of the Fermanagh senior county side, lined out for Fermanagh in this year's Dr McKenna Cup.
