Mourne star Rogers sweats on scan results after picking up knock

DOWN midfielder Ambrose Rogers is set to undergo a scan on his knee in the coming days to ascertain whether or not he will be available for their All-Ireland semi-final meeting with Kildare on August 29.

Rogers picked up the injury while lining out for club Longstone last weekend as they claimed a 1-17 to 1-5 victory over Liatroim in the first round of the Down SFC. The full extent of Rogers injury is still unclear but it is hoped that the results will be available at the latest by early next week.

In an effort to avoid any more injury problems for the county senior squad, the Down county board have opted to put the local club championships on hold until after the Kildare clash. Five of McCartan’s squad had been due to be involved in club championship replays next weekend. Goalkeeper Brendan McVeigh, and attacking duo Martin and John Clarke would have been involved with An Riocht in their senior first-round replay against Clonduff, midfielder Kalum King’s club Bryansford were scheduled to face Castlewellan in a senior replay while substitute Declan Alder would have been involved with Carryduff in an intermediate first-round replay tie against Dundrum. All those matches have now been postponed, a decision which will please Down boss James McCartan as he bids to steer the county to their first All-Ireland final since 1994.