De Paor out for rest of year
De Paor, who won All-Ireland titles with the Tribesmen in 1998 and 2001, ruptured his cruciate knee ligament in a club championship game with Carraroe against Clonbur on Saturday night.
The extent of the injury was confirmed after an MRI scan in Galway yesterday evening.
"We had been hoping against hope but it all pointed in the direction of the cruciate. Our main thoughts with are now with Seán Óg," Galway manager John O'Mahony said last night.
O'Mahony was fulsome in his praise of the Allstar defender who captained the side to the Allianz NFL Division One final against Kerry earlier this year.
"Of all the players I ever dealt with Seán Óg is the most professional, the most dedicated and is really a brilliant guy both on and off the field."
"I was speaking to him earlier. He is staying very positive but is hugely disappointed and is putting a brave face on it."
De Paor has enjoyed a remarkable career with Galway, winning two All-Ireland SFC titles and five Connacht SFC titles. He has represented his province in the Railway Cup and his country in the International Rules Series.
What impact will the injury have on Galway's bid for Connacht and All-Ireland glory this year?
"It is a huge setback," O'Mahony agreed. "But now we just have to get on with it. We lost Ja Fallon in 2000 and he was such an inspirational figure and it inspired us. Hopefully the same will happen again."
Meanwhile Westmeath midfielder Rory O'Connell has been hit with a three-month ban for his dismissal against Offaly but he is virtually certain to appeal to Central Council.
O'Connell said he was "devastated" by the news that the GAC had found him guilty of stamping, which carries a three-month suspension.
But O'Connell and Westmeath vehemently deny the incident involving Pascal Kelleghan constituted stamping and are adamant a personal letter from Kelleghan to the GAC cleared Rory's name.
"I am devastated to be out of the game for club and county. Westmeath are having a great year, and I hate missing it," said O'Connell, the county's first ever Allstar.
"But I am leaving my options open and am not giving up just yet."
Kelleghan's letter was hand-delivered by the Westmeath delegation to Monday's GAC meeting in Croke Park.
In the letter, it is believed Kelleghan clarified exactly what happened in the incident and refuted the allegation of stamping.
O'Connell has consistently argued his innocence, saying he merely tried to break free from Kelleghan.
"I am extraordinarily disappointed. I believe Rory's version of events," said Westmeath county board chairman Seamus Whelan.
"His version of events was that at worst he might have got a yellow card, if anything. Rory is a very honourable man and I believe what he is saying.
"Westmeath county board are resolved to do everything in our power to get Rory back playing football.
"We are encouraging him to make a personal appeal, and Paddy Collins, our secretary, is exploring every option available to us."
It is clear O'Connell has hit a stumbling block with the presence of the word "stamping" in the referee's report, apparently on the word of a linesman.
Westmeath are adamant stamping is a much more deliberate and premeditated act than what occurred.
O'Connell's availability has become a top priority for the county, who sense a Leinster senior football title might be on the cards this season.
They managed to overcome Dublin without him on Sunday, but are anxious to have him available as soon as possible.
A complicating factor is that few in the Croke Park crowd seem to have witnessed what happened.
Any Westmeath bid for the ban to be lifted or shortened will have to address the stamping claim.
If they can convince Central Council that stamping did not take place, they will then have some chance of convincing the authorities that an injustice has been done.
O'Connell's club Athlone are also devastated at the prospect of facing into a county championship campaign with their totemic midfielder.
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