ACL injury means Denis Buckley set for extended spell on sidelines

It now looks like it will be springtime 2022 before the Roscommon native is back in action

Denis Buckley leaves the field due to an injury on his 200th appearance for Connacht. Picture: INPHO/Elena Barbini

Connacht’s worst fears have been realised with experienced loosehead Denis Buckley ruled out until 2022 following confirmation that the knee injury picked up last weekend in Italy is an anterior cruciate ligament.

Head coach Andy Friend said they were hoping that the injury might be just a medial collateral ligament (MCL), which has a recovery period measured in weeks rather than months, but a scan has revealed that it is more serious than that.