Ellen Molloy re-signed for Wexford Youths this month for the 2023 seasons having made her WNL senior debut with the Youths in 2020.
Six weeks before the end of the 2022 season the Kilkenny native picked up an ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) injury in September against Treaty United after just 24 minutes into the first half, bringing a premature halt to her season with Wexford on a course at that stage for a shot at the league title and Molloy leading the goal-scoring charts.
“Rehab has been going really well. It’s been tough but at the minute I’m just trying to get the strength back into it, I definitely think I’m going really good without getting ahead of myself so I’m hoping to be back for the second half of the season all going to play.”
Having had surgery in October, the Kilkenny teenager is roughly 16 weeks post-operation at the time of writing.
“This is my first major kind of injury, it’s been quite tough to take. My whole life did a whole flip around, I didn’t know what to do with myself but I’ve had really good support around me through my family and friends, and Wexford Youths have been really really good to me. I’ve just listened to my physios and you kind of know your body and you know your limits and I know when to push forward and when to rest it.”
So how does she keep her fitness levels up during recovery?
“At the minute my rehab has been upped a good bit, I’m able to use the bike and I’m able to swim. I’m not running just yet but I’m able to keep my fitness up in that way. I’m just trying to get the strength back into my leg at the minute. Two months ago I was twiddling my thumbs thinking of things to do, there wasn’t much I could do then but thankfully now my rehab has been up a bit now so I’m busy with that.”
Molloy has taken a year out of college after her knee injury so she’s hoping to go back next year to do secondary school teaching.
The President’s Cup will kick off this year’s League of Ireland Women’s season with the meeting of league Shelbourne and Athlone Town on Saturday 25 February. While she may have to watch on from the sidelines, Molloy’s Wexford get their season underway on the road to Galway United on Saturday 4 March.
