Limerick goalkeeper Nickie Quaid opens up on suffering ACL injury 'playing soccer with friends'

The 35-year-old won an All-Star in 2024, despite his county's failure to retain the Liam McCarthy Cup, losing out to Cork at the semi-final stage.

“I was just playing soccer with a group of lads from home," he told Munster GAA.

“I’d do it in the winter just to stay fit and to keep ticking over. I was enjoying it with the lads so I didn’t think anything of it really going for a ball.

“I landed and planted my foot and just felt something go on my knee “Unfortunately then a couple of days later, I got the news I suppose that I was dreading that I’d ruptured my ACL and that I had to go and get surgery.”

A return in time for any part of the 2025 season is unlikely given the usual 9-12 month recovery time for an injury of this severity, meaning Treaty boss John Kiely will need to look elsewhere for a new no.1. 

Former Limerick forward Shane Dowling has rejoined the panel as a goalkeeper, a position he has impressed in for his club Na Piarsaigh, where he will likely battle Jason Gillane for a starting spot. 

For Quaid, all focus, for now, is on the rehab process. 

“I’m trying to embrace it and get on with it and try and put everything into rehab and get back as strong as I can.

“It’s not ideal, facing into the new year and obviously I’m pushing on and getting a bit older too.

“You don’t want these serious injuries at this time of your career.

“It is disappointing and I was down about it for a couple of days, but there’s no point in being too down about it."

Quaid continued: "I can’t do anything about it now, only try and embrace the rehab and get back as strong as I can and do everything I can to try and help the group in any way I can going forward.

“I obviously don’t want to be moping and things like that. Everyone gets injured and it’s unfortunate.”