Cavan's McKiernan to miss remainder of season

Young midfielder Gearóid McKiernan will be sidelined for Cavan's Championship campaign after suffering cruciate knee ligament damage during a club game.

McKiernan picked up the season-ending injury when playing for Swanlibar in their Cavan League Division 2 win over Cornafean last weekend, with a scan on Monday confirming the worst news for the player.

The 22-year-old had put in a number of excellent performances for the Breffni men in this season's Allianz League and was also part of Ulster's Interprovincial Championship-winning squad.

Cavan manager Terry Hyland is resigned to being without McKiernan, who captained Cavan to the 2011 Ulster Under-21 title, for the rest of the 2013 season.

It is a serious blow to Cavan's hopes of overturning Armagh in the sides' Ulster Championship preliminary round clash on Sunday, May 19.

Hyland told the GAA website today: "It's devastating for him personally because he had put in a massive effort and has done over the last couple of years.

"And when we look back on last year's league campaign, he's probably one of the only players that has played in every single minute of the league for us. He has been an inspiration there for Cavan for the last few years."

Asked about McKiernan's likely return next year, he added: "You're probably looking at the league next year if you want to be truthful about it.

"You're into April so by the time he gets seeing surgeons, gets procedures done, gets rehab and that, you're looking at next year's league."