Karl Lacey out for Donegal date with Galway

Karl Lacey has been ruled out of Donegal’s All-Ireland qualifier with Galway on Saturday due to a knee injury. 

The four-time All Star defender picked up a knock in the first-half of the Ulster final defeat by Monaghan and a scan has confirmed slight ligament damage.

“It’s a huge blow because he had started the Ulster final very well, scoring a point and setting up another,” said Donegal manager Rory Gallagher.

“There is slight damage to the outside of the knee, but we’ve known about it since the day of the (Monaghan) game.

“It requires rehab but no surgery. He wouldn’t be out long-term but he is not available for the Galway game, which is all that is important at the moment.”

Gallagher confirmed speculation Michael Murphy and Paddy McBrearty both carried slight knee injuries into the Ulster final – but insists they are both fully fit for Saturday’s back-door game.

“People read too much into things,” he insisted. “Michael had a slight knock and Patrick got a bang in the Ulster semi-final , but they are both fine and trained with no problems at all at the weekend.”