Oisin Merritt is celebrating a European bronze medal – four years after he was told he’d never kick a football again.
The Ballybofey United man helped the Republic of Ireland CP team to a bronze medal at the IFCPF European Championships in Netherlands.
Ireland defeated the host nation 2-1 in today’s third-fourth place play-off.
Aaron Tier gave Ireland the lead in the 47th minute before captain Gary Messett sealed the win with a second late on. Netherlands rallied and pulled one back in injury time but it was not enough as Ireland secured a well deserved win.
Merritt, who scored twice in a 5-1 group stages win over Germany, was again in the Irish starting line-up.
Merritt had to have part of his skull replaced after a fall from a balcony in Spain in June, 2014, but in April 2017 he was given the go-ahead to return to competitive sport.
Merritt was dubbed ‘The Miracle Man’ by doctors at Son Espases Hospital in Palma after a fall that saw him suffer a broken skull, a broken bone at the top of his neck, five breaks in his jaw, a broken cheekbone, a ruptured spleen and permanent deafness in his left ear.