Defensive injury concerns for Sligo Rovers ahead of the new season
LIAM Buckley’s plans for the 2020 season were dealt a hammer blow during Saturday’s pre-season victory over Athlone as defender John Mahon suffered a serious injury that will see him miss out for ‘the forseeable’.
The club confirmed on Sunday that Mahon suffered a fractured tibia following a tackle from Ronan Manning. Manager Liam Buckley said: “It is a fracture of the tibia. We’ll support John over the coming weeks and months and he will be back.
“He will recover in the right manner in accordance with the medical staff. The break is being assessed at the moment. He’s having further scans and in time the picture will be clearer. We’ll be without John for some months but we know he will return later when the time is right.
“We’re all disappointed but setbacks are to be overcome and we will do that together with John as a group.”
Buckley will also have to plan without Regan Donelon, who is expected to miss up to a month with a shoulder injury that he picked up in last Tuesday’s 5-1 win over Ballinamallard at Ferney Park.
Johnny Dunleavy has not featured for the Bit O’Red since their first pre-season friendly against Galway, but it is hoped that he will be fit in time for the start of the season following a knee injury.
Jesse Devers is still on trial with the club, and also missed out on Saturday’s friendly through injury. Lewis Banks too remains sidelined.
Liam Buckley’s side will play their final pre-season friendly this Friday in Dublin against First Division side Cabinteely and will be played behind closed doors.
Ronan Coughlan scored on Saturday to secured a 1-0 victory over Athlone in Rovers’ penultimate pre-season friendly.
Rovers’ starting 11 against Athlone was as follows: Ed McGinty, Kyle Callan McFadden, John Mahon, Teemu Penninkangas, Will Seymore, Niall Morahan, Darragh Noone, David Cawley, Garry Buckley, Ronan Murray, Ronan Coughlan.
Earlier in the week, Rovers were 5-1 winners against a youthful Ballinamallard side in Fermanagh.
A hat-trick from Coughlan was added to by a brace from Devers to give Rovers a comfortable victory.
Starting 11 for that game was as follows: Ed McGinty, Kyle Callan McFadden, John Mahon, Teemu Penninkangas, Darragh Noone, David Cawley, Will Seymore, Garry Buckley, Regan Donelon, Jesse Devers, Ronan Coughlan.