Football

Drew Wylie hamstring injury concern as Monaghan prepare for inter-county return

Drew Wylie (right) tore his hamstring in training for the Monaghan county final. Pic Philip Walsh.
Drew Wylie (right) tore his hamstring in training for the Monaghan county final. Pic Philip Walsh. Drew Wylie (right) tore his hamstring in training for the Monaghan county final. Pic Philip Walsh.

THE writing was on the wall for Ballybay when full-back Drew Wylie was forced off with a hamstring strain in Sunday’s Monaghan final against Scotstown but the injury could rule him out when inter-county action resumes next month.

Despite a bright start, Ballybay, who also included Drew’s brothers Ryan and Brent in their starting line-up, were well behind when he limped off and 10 points separated the finalists at the finish.

Wylie has been the lynchpin of Monaghan rearguard in recent years and Farney county manager Seamus McEnaney will now have his fingers crossed that the burly defender will be fit for his side’s crucial Division One game against Kerry in just over three weeks’ time.

That game is followed by the county’s final League game against Meath and then a ‘do-or-die’ Ulster Championship showdown with neighbours Cavan.

“Drew strained a hamstring 10 days ago, he had a grade two tear on it,” explained Ballybay manager Colin Malone after the loss to Scotstown.

Malone says Wylie is “a quick healer” but a grade two tear can take up to four weeks to heal meaning that the Ballybay defender could miss the duel with the Kingdom in Inniskeen.

“We were lucky that Drew was fit to start today and we had to re-jig the team to get him in,” said Malone.

“In fairness to Drew, he did everything he could and he got through 40 minutes before it tightened up again on him and it was time to get him out of there.

“There’s no way he wasn’t going to play. He’s a great clubman and a great captain and leader for us.”