Achilles problem ends Geraghty's season

Graham Geraghty is resigned to not playing again for Meath this year, after rupturing the Achilles tendon in his right leg.

The 38-year-old forward, whom Meath boss Seamus McEnaney rates as the county's best ever footballer, was brought back into the panel in May after a three-year retirement.

Geraghty had a 12-minute cameo against Kildare last month, which included a disallowed goal, but then injured his Achilles in training and missed the All-Ireland SFC qualifier win over Louth.

Now he has been ruled out of McEnaney's plans for the rest of the Championship as he will undergo surgery to correct the problem.

Geraghty is set for a probable six-month lay-off after having scans on his injured leg at a Santry clinic yesterday evening.

But the 1999 All-Ireland winning captain has indicated his eagerness to play for Meath in 2012, having enjoyed his short spell with the current squad.

"If I was asked back next year I'd go in. This has only made me more determined," he told the Irish Sun.

"After all the controversy of returning, to then only come on for a short while against Kildare and get one touch of a ball you would feel there is some unfinished business.

"It is extremely frustrating. As far as I can remember I have never missed a game because of injury during my career.

"So for it to happen now when you were really looking forward to getting going again with Meath is hard to take. I was enjoying it and felt I had been going well in training.

"A lot of people will probably say, 'that's it now, you're past it' or 'that's old age' or whatever, but you can't do anything about that."

The Royals host Galway in an intriguing second round qualifier in Navan on Saturday night (throw-in 7pm).

Although Geraghty is a considerable loss, McEnaney's forward options have been boosted by Stephen Bray's recovery from a hamstring injury and Brian Farrell is available again after serving his four-week suspension.