Football

Armagh midfielder Ben Crealey ruled out with broken collarbone

Armagh midfielder Ben Crealey has been uled out with a broken collarbone. Pic Philip Walsh.
Armagh midfielder Ben Crealey has been uled out with a broken collarbone. Pic Philip Walsh. Armagh midfielder Ben Crealey has been uled out with a broken collarbone. Pic Philip Walsh.

ARMAGH midfielder Ben Crealey could miss the 2020 season after breaking his collarbone while playing for his club Maghery in a challenge match last weekend.

Crealey, a county championship winner with the Sean MacDermott’s club in 2016, missed this year’s National Football League because of a work placement overseas but he had returned to action in time to face Tyrone’s Clonoe in a pre-season friendly. The talented midfielder was injured in a tackle and will miss Maghery’s Division One opener against reigning Armagh champions Crossmaglen Rangers on Sunday. Crealey featured in four of Armagh’s five Championship games last summer but had missed the first five rounds of the county’s League programme due to his unavailability.

Meanwhile, Crealey’s Armagh colleague Aidan Forker could also miss the league opener against Crossmaglen.

The experienced Orchard county star, who began his career as a forward before reverting to a defensive role, has been struggling with an injury but is expected to be fully fit for the club’s senior championship campaign.