Clancy injury major blow for Laois

LAOIS boss Mick O’Dwyer may have to plan without key midfielder Pauric Clancy for up to two months — sidelining him for most of their Leinster Championship defence.

Clancy will definitely miss the county’s opening outing on May 30 against either Longford or Carlow after damaging a thumb in an industrial accident.

Clancy, who formed a formidable centre-field pairing last season with Noel Garvan, has already undergone an operation, and O’Dwyer fears that he may be missing for longer than first expected.

“It was a serious accident and one that will take time to heal. He can’t be rushed back, so we are definitely ruling him out of the first game on May 30. And I wouldn’t be too confident of him being available for the Leinster semi final at this stage,” he admitted last night.

O’Dwyer is already planning without Donal Miller, who will undergo an ankle operation later this week, Barry Brennan and wing forward Gary Kavanagh, who has been sidelined all year after a cruciate ligament operation.

Laois were beaten by Cavan (0-12 to 0-11) in a senior football challenge yesterday, with Brian ‘Beano’ MacDonald limping off with a leg injury. However it is not considered too serious.