McManus set to miss Tyrone quarter-final

Conor McManus has almost resigned himself to missing out on Sunday’s Ulster quarter-final with Tyrone.

Although he has yet to concede that he won’t be able to play some part in Clones because of an ankle injury, he admits to having exhausted every imaginable avenue after visiting cryo and oxygen chambers in Wexford and Down as well as a visit to Sean Boylan’s herbal centre in Dunboyne.

As for the prospect of taking a spot on the bench, he said: “It’s a possibility but again I suppose it’s just a matter of how it reacts over the next couple of days to doing a bit of jogging and see how it goes.

“I suppose it’s not ideal preparation for a Championship game and you have to take yourself out of it and think of the team more so than yourself. As much as you’d like to be there, you have to put the team first.”

McManus, an All Star last season, hasn’t trained with Monaghan yet and admits he’s in week six of a 10 to 12 week injury. He has to consider there will be a game in two weeks, whether they beat or lose to Tyrone.

“You have to think of your own welfare in terms of being fit for the rest of the summer or whatever the case is. Either way, win or lose, there’s going to be a game in two weeks’ time so you have to take a look at the bigger picture as well.”

McManus was speaking at the launch of Gaelic Performance’s officially GAA licensed children’s football gloves, the company of former Monaghan players JP Mone and Dermot McArdle.

Dessie Mone was also in attendance where he spoke of the counties’ All-Ireland quarter-final and the half-time row, which saw Martin Penrose sent off for an altercation with the Monaghan defender.

“When two Ulster teams meet, we know each other well and we know what buttons to press. It’s all part and parcel of it and you leave it on the pitch. We’re big enough men to do that. You just get on with it.

“What happens, happens. It’s all done in a flash. You can’t look back and hold it against anyone.”

Mone is possibly the most reformed footballer on the inter-county scene, transformed under Malachy O’Rourke from a hard nut defender to an attack-minded one.

“It was probably different times back then (under Seamus McEnaney). As a youngster growing up, you’re always going to listen to your management and whatever and do the job your asked to do by the letter of the law. That’s the type of player I am.”