Seán Boylan says he has never been more afraid of anything in his life than he was during a battle with Covid-19.
Last year, the four-time All-Ireland winning Meath manager went to get a vaccination for the flu.
"Some six days later, I wasn't feeling well. It turned out that I had Covid," the 77-year-old told RTÉ Radio One.
"I ended up in hospital and was discharged from hospital on March 31st.
"It was totally out of the blue.
"I was never healthier, fit as a fiddle. I lost 10 kilos in six days. The people in Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown couldn't have been nicer to me.
"But the terror, the fear - it was uncanny, it was unreal. I was never as afraid of anything in my life [and] I was always very happy.
"But this, it took me weeks [to recover]. Tina, my wife, said to me one day and even the kids were saying that I was still a bit snappy and short.
"I went out walking in the fields. I remember saying to myself, 'If someone came in like that what you be saying to them Sean?' [I'd say] 'Cop on! You got a ferocious fright and you've got post-traumatic stress'.
"I took something for that and three hours later I started back and made a great recovery."
Boylan, who works as a herbalist, said it took him six weeks to recover from the illness. He went for tests in November and was found to be in good health. The Meath legend will be part of the Down U20 management team this year.
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