Monaghan boss Bannigan confirms McCaul's ACL tear

The Aughnamullen man, a club-mate of manager Gabriel Bannigan’s, scored 1-1 coming off the bench the defeat to Mayo in Clones on Sunday.

Monaghan’s Bobby McCaul leaves the field injured. Pic: James Crombie/Inpho

Bobby McCaul has torn his anterior cruciate ligament, Monaghan manager Gabriel Bannigan has confirmed.

The Aughnamullen man, a club-mate of Bannigan’s, scored 1-1 coming off the bench the defeat to Mayo in Clones on Sunday.

At the time, it had been feared he suffered the same injury he picked up in last year’s Ulster U20 championship. McCaul had to be stretchered off.

McCaul had also been impressive as a substitute against Derry in the Ulster semi-final. 

Speaking about his player’s injury on Sunday, Bannigan said: “We brought him in at half-time today and he was turning the game. Anything that was going in there, he was winning.

“It’s such a shame… but he’s made of bloody good stuff, he’ll be back. He’s a clubman of mine, from a brilliant family. His dad would have played for years with me.

“Bobby’s a great kid, too, brilliant kid. From the moment I got a chance to bring him in here, I was bringing him in here. He has a big future ahead of him.” 

McCaul also had a point effort that was waved wide by David Coldrick’s umpires. The final margin between the teams was a solitary point.

Monaghan face Roscommon in their All-Ireland SFC Round 2B game in St Tiernach’s Park on Saturday week without McCaul and possibly Ryan McAnespie and Stephen O’Hanlon.