Canavan’s League blow after operation

TYRONE star Peter Canavan underwent an operation on his long term ankle injury in a Belfast hospital yesterday.

The former footballer of the year sustained the injury in last season's All-Ireland semi-final win over Kerry and the problem forced his substitution in the county’s historic All-Ireland SFC success against Armagh.

The injury is expected to rule him out of the entire Allianz NFL campaign.

However manager Mickey Harte is hopeful that Canavan will be back for the championship

Canavan's team-mate Philip Jordan could also be missing when Tyrone begin their defence of the National League title.

Jordan has been plagued by a troublesome wrist injury, which is taking longer than expected to clear-up.

Meanwhile Clare finalised their preparations for Sunday’s McGrath Cup final date with Limerick with a challenge game against Galway under floodlights at Claregalway last night.

Banner boss John Kennedy will certainly be without international rules star Odran O'Dwyer.

David Russell and David Nealon, are also concerns after last Sunday's semi-final victory against Tipperary.

O’Dwyer sustained an ankle injury while in Australia and he is yet to return to the competitive football scene. The team is expected to be announced later today.

Ironically, the Clare manager was forced to watch last weekend’s victory from the grass bank outside the playing pitch.

He is currently serving a suspension imposed by the Kerry County Board arising from an investigation of a juvenile game last year.

He will again be outside the wire on Sunday in Milltown Malbay, (Throw-in, 2pm).

Limerick too are holding tough, and they won’t be announcing any team until this Thursday at the earliest.

“We have a few niggling injuries after last week’s game so we prefer to wait a few days”, a spokesman explained.

The spokesman refused to name the players involved.

Westmeath held a training session last night while their O'Byrne Cup final opponents Meath, won't be announcing their team until after training on Thursday night.

Niall Kelly, who picked up a leg injury in last Sunday's tussle with Offaly is the sole concern for manager Sean Boylan.