THE back injury which has ruled Down captain James McCartan out of Sunday’s Ulster semi-final could put an end to his career, according to county physio Paul McCormac.
Damage is so severe that the Burren man cannot evenattend the game against Tyrone at Casement Park.
He is confined to 10 days’ bed rest on medical advice. McCartan was injured in training on Sunday and was sent to a specialist on Monday after experiencing severe pain.
An MRI scan carried out at Musgrave Park hospital on Wednesday revealed a disc prolapse in the lower lumbar area, described by McCormac as “one of the most severe back injuries.”
The material contained inside the disc has bled into the cavity where the nerve lies.
Such an injury normally requires surgery but the bed rest has been advised with the intention of avoiding possible surgery, in the hope that the leaked material will withdraw back into the disc.
“The specialist just does not know at this stage if James’s career is in jeopardy - but any players who have required surgery have had to quit the game,” warned McCormac.
“This is one of the most serious injuries I have ever encountered. People talk about anterior or cruciate knee ligaments being bad but like most things now they can be fixed. In the short term James can’t get out of bed and he has trouble walking.”
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ALAN O’Neill, the Armagh forward stretchered off in last Sunday’s Ulster football semi-final, was released from hospital to attend his graduation yesterday.
The Culloville man, who received a second class first division BEd honours degree from St Mary’s College, left the Mater Hospital in Dublin late on Wednesday evening and was able to attend yesterday’s ceremony at Queen’s University.
Unfortunately, his celebrations are to be short-lived.
The 22-year-old was released reluctantly by the Mater under the proviso that he returns to the hospital within a few days for further tests. O’Neill sustained what looked to be a very serious injury early on during Sunday’s semi-final with Derry at Clones.
He was carried off wearing a neck brace and taken immediately to hospital in Monaghan before being transferred to Dublin later that evening.
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IMMACULATA bantamweight Martin Lindsey was in knockout form at last night’s Gaelic Youth Championships in Butlins, Mosney helping Ireland to the top team award, the President’s Trophy.
The clever Falls Road boxer swept the legs from under Scotland’s George Bageley inside the opening round to lift the gold. Lindsey was one of eight Irish boxers to collect gold, four in all from Ulster.
Gaelic Youth Championship final results:
Youth 1: 45kgs: Pat Hyland (Ireland) bt Henry James (Wales) 24-10
48kgs: Francis McClurkin (Ire) bt Kevin Foley (Wal) 28-13
51kgs: Michael Ryan (Ire) bt Jonathan Roberts (Wal) 16-3
54kgs: John McDonagh (Ire) lost William Lukins (Wal) 16-6
57kgs: Ricky Burns (Scot) bt Leo Owen (Wal) 8-6
60kgs: Austin O’Malley (Ire) lost Gary Young (Scot) 6-5
63.5kgs: Alan Foley (Ire) lost Kevin Anderson (Scot) injury wo
Youth 2: 48kgs: Paul Hendricks (Ire) bt Noman Ali (Wal) 17-8
51kgs: Kevin Townsley (Scot) lost Paul Baker (Ire) rsc3
54 kgs: Martin Lindsey (Ire) bt George Bageley (Scot) kor1
57kgs: Andrew Murray (Ire) bt Paul Cleir (Scot) 19-12
60kgs: David McFadden (Ire) lost Lee McAllister (Scot) rsc3
63.5kgs: Michael Hoey (Ire) lost Craig McEwan (Scot) 21-3
67kgs: Gerard McAuley (Ire) bt John Park (Scot) rsc2
71kgs: Michael Mullaney (Ire) lost Ryan Kerr (Scot) 13-4.
