WESTMEATH HAVE BEEN dealt a double blow as both Alan Giles and David McCormack will miss the remainder of this summer’s championship.
Giles is the latest GAA player to suffer a cruciate ligament injury, and following a scan last week he has been ruled out for up to 12 months.
Manager Paul Bealin told TheScore.ie that the Coralstown/Kinnegad inside forward picked up the injury while playing with his club.
“He did it with his club about two weeks ago and it was confirmed last Thursday. He’s out for the year, with the usual kind of nine month to 12 month rehab after the operation.
“In terms of times for the operation I’m not sure on that yet, but the injury was confirmed last Thursday through a scan. He’s just been very, very unlucky.”
Giles had featured in four of Westmeath’s league games this year, as well as featuring in the last ten minutes of their Leinster opener with Louth last month.
“He had made great strides,” explained Bealin. “He only came in this year injury free and he had done really well in the league games.
“He just took a bit of a knock during the league and kind of went back a little bit, but he was just coming back really strong and had played really well in a challenge game against Armagh recently. He was definitely there and thereabouts in terms of the shake up, so it’s just unfortunate.”
Another man to miss out on this month’s Round 1 qualifier clash with Cavan is David McCormack.
McCormack, still U21 this year, was a first half substitute against Louth and was a serious contender for a starting berth against Cavan.
“David, who also came on against Louth, he broke his nose and his cheekbone in that challenge game against Armagh as well. As a result of that he’s gone to America, but he wouldn’t of been available for us anyway with the injury.”
McCormack had made half a dozen appearances during the league, featuring as a half forward and midfielder.
One man who will be at full fitness for the Lake County is John Heslin. The 22-year-old had missed much of this year’s league, and Sigerson Cup with ongoing groin concerns.
“There’s no longer an issue with him. John is fine,” revealed Bealin.
“We only went back ourselves there on Monday, we’d club championship all last weekend and it finished there last night. Will know more about our injuries next Thursday when we train.”
