Cartilage damage for Galway's Bergin

Galway's bid to retain their Connacht SFC title has been given a boost with the news that versatile forward Joe Bergin's injury fears have been eased.

However, the 25-year-old is still facing an injury lay-off which could run up to six weeks.

Bergin, who scored a point in Galway's 0-19 to 1-12 Connacht quarter-final win over Sligo last Saturday, sustained a knee injury the following afternoon when lining out for his club Mountbellew/Moylough.

The initial worry was that the 2001 All-Ireland winner had aggravated the cruciate ligament injury which kept him sidelined for much of last season and the recent National League.

A subsequent scan revealed only cartilage damage for Bergin, who is due to undergo further tests today.

While he is unlikely to be fit in time for the Tribesmen's semi-final clash with Roscommon on June 18, should Peter Ford's men progress to the July 16 final, Bergin will be in line for a recall.