Flynn ruled out, while Foley exam-tied

LONG-SERVING footballer Adrian Flynn’s future inter-county career could be in jeopardy.

The Gusserane all-rounder, who played through the pain barrier when assisting his club through the final stages of the season, has been diagnosed with a cruciate ligament injury sustained during the county final win over Glynn-Barntown.

The injury will rule him out of the game for up to nine months, which is a blow to new manager Seamus McEnaney who would have been looking to the experience of Flynn to supplement his young squad.

Meanwhile, outstanding young defender Pádraig Foley looks likely to miss out on the opening games of the 2017 Allianz Hurling League campaign.

The Crossabeg-Ballymurn clubman, who was a regular in the Model county defence this year following successful Under-21 campaigns over the past two seasons, is likely to be exam-tied.

‘I’ve had a chat with him. The backroom team have had a chat with him. We keep revisiting the situation, and the backroom are constantly in contact with him,’ manager Davy Fitzgerald said.

‘He is concentrating on his college and exams which is fair enough. We will welcome him in when available.

‘The panel is open-ended, some will come, some will go. There will be no pressure on any guy. While we would like them to be with us now and not later, people have circumstances.

‘I don’t know if Paudie will be with us for the league, but it’s highly unlikely,’ Fitzgerald added.