Football

Niall Donnelly ruled out of Down's Ulster Championship clash with Armagh

Niall Donnelly will miss Down's clash with Armagh at Pairc Esler. Pic Seamus Loughran.
Niall Donnelly will miss Down's clash with Armagh at Pairc Esler. Pic Seamus Loughran. Niall Donnelly will miss Down's clash with Armagh at Pairc Esler. Pic Seamus Loughran.

MIDFIELDER Niall Donnelly has been ruled out of Down’s Ulster Championship campaign after injuring his ankle.

It is understood that the Tullylish clubman has torn ligaments in his ankle and will play no part in the Mournemen’s quarter-final clash with Armagh at Pairc Esler on May 19.

Donnelly made his Championship debut two years ago when Down upset the formbook by beating their bitter rivals at the same venue. He retained his place throughout an encouraging season for his county and was a fixture in the team last year.

This season he featured in the first League game against Laois but pulled up with an injury and was replaced by Caolan Mooney midway through the second half and hasn’t played since.

Mooney operated in a midfield role throughout the rest of the Division Three campaign with Donnelly expected to take one of the berths for the Championship battle which will see Down’s centrefield pairing up against an Armagh side that could start with Charlie Vernon and Stephen Sheridan but can also call upon Niall Grimley, Jarlath og Burns, Oisin O’Neill and Ben Crealey.

Meanwhile, experienced Annaclone full-back Benny McArdle is receiving treatment for a knee injury. McArdle has suffered a series of injury setbacks in recent seasons but did feature in the final three matches of Down’s NFL campaign, coming on as a substitute against Longford, Carlow and Louth. Kilcoo forward Ryan Johnston is also carrying a knock that has ruled him out of the reigning county champions’ league programme so far. However, he is expected to feature against Armagh and so too is Glassdrumman forward Connaire Harrison.

There had been rumours that the combative finisher had withdrawn from Paddy Tally’s panel but it has been confirmed that they are wide of the mark and Harrison will hope to nail down a place in the starting team for the eagerly-awaited derby.

Harrison is a proven match-winner on his day but he struggled to make an impact during the League in terms of scores and registered just one point from the six games in which he featured. Down’s switch from their more traditional kicking style to a running game has been offered as a reason for his lack of success in front of the posts but his forward partner Donal O’Hare has flourished under Tally.

The Burren forward looked a class act throughout the League and was Down’s top scorer in four of their seven games, finishing with a tally of 4-22. He was kept scoreless in the final game against Louth and, ultimately, that meant Down – who needed a single point to clinch promotion on scoring difference – were unable to force their way back up to Division Two.

Saval forward Pat Havern will also be hoping to make his Championship debut against Armagh. Physically strong and a talented footballer, Havern featured in Down’s first two League games but was sent off against Sligo and couldn’t force his way back into the team.

Meanwhile, Saul clubman Jack Hazzard has been brought into the panel in place of Marc Reid. Hazzard, younger brother of Celtic youth team goalkeeper Conor Hazzard, will serve as the understudy to Rory Burns, an ever-present during the Division Three campaign.