CONNACHT’S HOPES OF finishing their best ever season with silverware have been dealt a big blow with versatile back-rower Eoghan Masterson ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
Connacht’s worst fears were confirmed when a scan revealed the 22-year-old suffered significant knee damage in the 51-34 victory over Zebre on Saturday.
Masterson was taken to hospital in Parma having been stretchered from the field but he was able to return home with the squad on Sunday.
However, coach Pat Lam confirmed today that Masterson, who can play across the three back row positions, will not feature again this season.
“He had an X-ray in Parma and further scans yesterday, so just awaiting results for that scan to determine the extent of that injury. But he is definitely ruled out for the rest of the season.”
Masterson has played in 13 of Connacht’s 15 league games this season, starting 10 of them, and Lam said the Portlaoise native, who featured for Emerging Ireland in the Tbilisi Cup last summer, will be a big loss.
“He has had a very good season, he had been fighting in the back row. I think the biggest thing is just competition.
“But every time you lose someone to an injury the main thing is you lose competition and that’s what is driving everybody. But the next guy steps up,” said Lam.
Connacht, who have already equalled their best league campaign ever last season when they chalked up 10 wins and 50 points, are in pole position to nail down a first semi-final spot.
But Lam said they will be tested this weekend when they host an Ospreys side who are coming to the Sportsground on the back of good wins away to Munster and at home to Edinburgh.
Back-rowers Jake Heenan (hip pointer) and Eoin McKeon (ankle), along with centre Craig Ronaldson (knee), are being monitored this week after picking up injuries in the win over Zebre.
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