ARMAGH player Andrew McCann has been released from hospital, recovering from a broken lower jaw during Saturday’s ‘B’ championship game against Antrim.
McCann was felled during the game in an “off-the-ball incident” according to Armagh PRO Pat Nugent last night.
McCann is reported to have suffered three separate broken bones in his lower jaw and underwent an operation in Dundonald hospital on Sunday evening after being transferred from the Craigavon hospital.
Nugent said McCann will be unable to eat for six weeks.
“Andrew cannot talk at the minute, he is very sore and unable to eat as his mouth is wired together.
“I have not spoke to him as yet but I have spoken to his parents who are gutted. Andrew was supposed to be starting a post-graduate course at university this week.
“I cannot understand what provoked the incident because the game itself was very low key and there were no incidents apart from this one.
“In my opinion it was unprovoked and it was totally isolated.
“Andrew is a very quiet young man, one who attends training and returns home.
“He is certainly one of the quietest players in our panel.”
The Armagh county board have not discussed the game or the incident and it is unlikely it will make further comment until disciplinary action has been taken
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ANTRIM GAA county secretary Gerry Barry has not resigned from his post after all. The Antrim county committee was not informed of any intention to resign by Mr Barry and he attended a county committee meeting in Ballymena on Monday evening.
The county secretary was reported to have resigned following the Antrim senior football final almost two weeks ago.
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LIAM Griffin stunned the hurling world yesterday when he announced that he had quit as Wexford team boss.
The charismatic Griffin, who guided Wexford to their first All-Ireland senior title in 28 years, said that he had stepped down because of family reasons.
Griffin revealed that his wife has been suffering from a serious debilitating illness for a number of months.
He added that his domestic commitments now meant it impossible for him to continue in the Wexford job.
“Wexford people have known for some time that my wife has not been well so I don’t think my decision will be that much of a shock to people down here,” said Griffin from his home last night.
The popular Griffin thanked “the people of Wexford” for all the support he has received over the last two years.
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ST MARY’S CBS Belfast maintained their status as early Bank of Ireland Mageean Cup favourites by hammering St Patrick’s Maghera in the round-robin league stages of the competition.
Antrim minor Gareth Ward was the Mary’s hero with four goals in the 7-10 to 0-2 triumph. Padraig O’Kane and Owen Doherty battled manfully for the south Derry school.
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IRISH junior middleweight champion Alo Kelly whipped the cream of Europe to return home with a gold medal from the multi-nations Amateur Boxing Tournament held in Yugoslavia and Derry lad Charlie Nash junior won silver in his flyweight final.
The Belgrade-hosted event also saw Kelly lift the Best Boxer accolade while the victorious Irish capped one gold, two silver and one bronze during a momentous night of boxing.
Kelly, from the Brosna Boxing Club in west Meath beat the champions of Yugoslavia, Ukraine and Romania en route to gold and the Irish team performance augurs well for a strong showing at the World Junior championships in Cuba next month.
Professional stars Eamonn Loughran and Eamonn Magee were involved in medal honours at the World event, Loughran in Havana and Magee in Puerto Rico.
Derry born Charlie Nash junior will be aiming to make an impression next month. The Irish champion, coached by his namesake father, former European champion, was defeated in the final on points by the Romanian flyweight champion.
