ACCRINGTON STANLEY forward Shay McCartan is still undergoing tests after collapsing towards the end of the League Two side’s FA Cup victory over Bradford City last Saturday.
McCartan, a former Down minor player, collapsed as he walked back towards the halfway line in the fifth minute of injury-time during Stanley’s 2-1 first round win at Valley Parade.
The Newry man had only come on as a substitute for late match-winner Jordan Clark in the 85th minute. After receiving attention from paramedics, the 22-year-old was stretchered off and taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary before being allowed to travel back on the team coach.
McCartan tweeted later that evening: “Thanks for all the messages, scary times but hopefully be ok. Great win for the boys.”
A spokesman for the Lancashire-based club yesterday confirmed that the former Northern Ireland U21 player was “under the care of the club’s medical department” and is “awaiting some more tests”.
Despite his exploits with Accrington, it was on the GAA fields back home where McCartan first came to prominence. A second cousin of former Down stars ‘Wee James’, Dan and Eoin, the speedy McCartan was a key part of St Colman’s College, Newry’s MacRory and Hogan Cup-winning sides of 2010 and 2011 alongside the likes of current Mourne star Donal O’Hare and Caolan Mooney.
The Glenn clubman also made a brief, but impressive, impact in the red and black jersey of his county after being called into the Down minor set-up by two-time All-Ireland winner Pete McGrath.
Handed a starting spot for Down’s 2011 Ulster Championship opener against Armagh, the 17-year-old bagged three goals before half-time. At that time, McCartan had just signed for current Barclays Premier League club Burnley.
However, after making just one appearance for the Clarets before a loan move to Hyde United, he eventually joined Accrington Stanley on a free transfer in 2013.
