Kildare have claimed the Christy Ring cup today, with a comfortable win over London 1-11 to 3-19. One of the star performers for the Lilywhites was forward James Burke who plundered eight points on the day, with three coming from frees.
His performance is made more astonishing however, given that the Naas man had to be placed in a medically induced coma in Easter because he was suffering with bacterial meningitis.
Burke spoke to Off The Ball about his condition:
I was in hospital for twelve days.
Things started to escalate very quickly, I started getting really lethargic pains all over my body, I wasn't talking sense, my eyes were becoming vacant. They feared for the worst.
They put me on five anti-biotics and they put me in an induced coma, and they started working on me then. They diagnosed it as bacterial meningitis type b.
Kildare's James Burke shares his fantastic story, and comeback from an induced coma after he was diagnosed with bacterial meningitis: " I was on five anti-biotics and put into an induced coma."
Full interview from the Hurling Show: https://t.co/if1dWeoBKM@BoyleSports pic.twitter.com/oRLVIkvL9G
— Off The Ball (@offtheball) June 22, 2018
Can’t imagine a more remarkable story in Irish sport this year than that of James Burke. Put in an induced coma at Easter with bacterial meningitis. A couple of months later scores 8 points, 5 from play in a Christy Ring Cup winning team. Inspirational. Well done young man.
— Kildaregaa365 (@kildaregaa365) June 23, 2018
. @ChristyRingCup final, @KildareGAA 0-6 @LONDAINGAA 0-2 (23 mins) #GAA is there a bigger #GAA story this year than James Burke? 0-5 for the @NaasGAA clubman so far today
— John Ryan (@John_Ryan1) June 23, 2018
Kildare will now play Antrim next weekend in a playoff, with the winner awarded a place in next year’s Joe McDonagh Cup.
