Tyrone have suffered a setback after the weekend's big replay win over Derry. Midfielder Sean Cavanagh, Saturday's man of the match in the eyes of many, has chipped a bone in his ankle and will be out of action for about six weeks.
He may be back in time for the Ulster final but will definitely miss the semi-final against Antrim.
Cavanagh sustained the injury playing for his club Moy on Sunday evening. "It's a big blow after a great weekend, I'm very disappointed," Cavanagh said yesterday.
"But I just have to keep my head up and concentrate on recovering, and hopefully if we reach the Ulster final I could be back for that. That's what I'm setting my sights on. I'm getting some oxygen treatment which should speed up the healing process."
As he sat in the A&E waiting area at Craigavon hospital, his Tyrone midfield partner, Cormac McAnallen, arrived with a suspected fractured cheekbone, also picked up in a club game. But McAnallen is expected to be fit.
"It's a disaster," according to Tyrone manager Mickey Harte. "If there was any player at the present time that you didn't want injured, it's Sean Cavanagh. He had made midfield his own, playing very well, and obviously the more games he would get at that level, the better it would be for him."
Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that the Offaly-Laois replay scheduled for the Bank Holiday Monday next week in Tullamore will start at 3.30.
Also next Monday, TG4 will provide live coverage of the finals of Comórtas Peile na Gaeltachta, in Ballyvourney in Cork. The junior and senior finals are in the afternoon, starting at 1.45. There will also be highlights of the competition the following Saturday at 8.30.
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