CILLIAN O’CONNOR IS a massive doubt for Mayo’s All-Ireland final clash on September 22nd after damaging his left shoulder today for the third time in just under 12 months.
The 2011 and 2012 Young Footballer of the Year was forced off after just 11 minutes of today’s semi-final win over Tyrone in Croke Park.
And manager James Horan confirmed after the game that O’Connor had injured the same shoulder that has hampered his involvement over the last year.
O’Connor received medical treatment at the time and was then moved to the Mater Hospital His injury is set to be properly assessed in the coming days but his prospects of being available for the final appear slim.
O’Connor first dislocated his shoulder in a league game with his club Ballintubber a week after last September’s All-Ireland final loss to Donegal.
And after undergoing a rigorous rehabilitation programme he was struck down by the same injury again this year in a club match in May a week after Mayo’s Connacht championship win over Galway.
O’Connor returned to action when coming on as a substitute at half-time in Mayo’s Connacht final win over London in July and netted a hat-trick during his second-half cameo.
He repeated that feat by bagging three goals in a sensational display in the quarter-final against Donegal.
But now Mayo look set to be without their star attacker for the Sam Maguire showdown with Dublin or Kerry next month.
Meanwhile it was confirmed that Mayo minor footballer Cian Hanley fractured his collarbone in their All-Ireland semi-final win over Monaghan today.
The younger brother of Australian Rules star Pearce suffered the injury just before half-time in the clash in Croke Park and there was a lengthy stoppage while he received treatment.
He was subsequently transferred to the Mater Hospital where the medical team attended to him.
Mayo’s Cillian O’Connor is taken off injured
Pic: INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan
