Double blow for Meath as Kenny ruled out

The gloss has been taken off Meath's Leinster SFC win over Wicklow with the news that captain Seamus Kenny will miss the rest of the Championship.

It has been confirmed that Kenny suffered cruciate knee ligament damage in the early stages of last Sunday's game against Wicklow at Dr Cullen Park.

Although initially thought to be a medial ligament injury, a subsequent scan from the Santry Sports Clinic showed that the Royals skipper had ruptured his cruciate ligament.

The injury may threaten his inter-county future as following surgery, the Simonstown Gaels clubman is set to be sidelined for up to a year. He will turn 33 next January.

Meanwhile, Kenny's defensive colleague Caoimhin King has reportedly left the Meath panel after missing out on selection for the Wicklow game.

He is understood to annoyed by his absence from the starting line-up and the fact that he was overlooked when Kenny went off injured - manager Seamus McEnaney brought on Donal Keogan instead.

Losing his captain along with player of King's versatility will give McEneaney added headaches, especially as Shane O'Rourke, Mark Ward, Stephen Bray and Paddy Gilsenan are all currently battling injuries.

Banty's men are next in action against Carlow in a Leinster quarter-final on Sunday week. It has also emerged that midfielder Tom Walsh is nursing a shoulder injury which he sustained in training before the victory over Wicklow.