McNally to miss rest of season

SOCCER

The injury jinx on Meath players in the Uk struck again last week with the news that Enfield's Luke McNally will miss the rest of Bristol City's English Championship campaign after suffering the dreaded ACL rupture in the loss to Swansea City

Athboy's Jamie McGrath is also set to miss the rest of the Scottish Premiership season after picking up a shoulder injury that requires aurgery.

Bettystown's Evan Ferguson is still working his way back to full fitness after an ankle problem that has impeded his progress for the best part of a year.

McNally's Bristol City manager Liam Confirmed that the Enfield man will be out of action for a "long time" after the Robins confirmed the defender suffered an anterior cruciate injury in their defeat to Swansea City. However, the City head coach dedicated his side's win over Stoke City to the defender.

McNally was forced off in the 73rd minute of the Reds' 1-0 defeat to Luke Williams' Swans. While Manning didn't confirm what the former Burnley man's issue was immediately after the game, he did confess that he thought it must have been serious to force the otherwise "hard as nails" defender off the pitch.

Without McNally, the Robins still managed to secure all three points in the next outing against McNally's former club Stoke City as a brace from Anis Mehmeti secured all three points for Manning's side.

Although the head coach was keen to praise his squad, he was also quick to dedicate the win to the Ireland youth international and shed some more light on his condition.

"A long time," Manning told Bristol Live when asked just how long the McNally could be sidelined. "I spoke to him on the phone last night, he’s obviously hugely disappointed and frustrated.

"I think it is one of those where he was in a really good spot and hitting a really consistent performance level.

"He's a top lad in the group, the lads love him. He's a big part of us and what we're trying to do, and again, I think it's never easy.

"I'm sure it’ll be a bit of an emotional roller coaster, the period of time ahead for him to get back. But what he knows is he’s got a terrific group of teammates and staff that will do everything to make him come back at a better level.

"That one is for Luke tonight," he continued. "We spoke about it before the game. It’s a tough injury to take, he’s a big character in the group so that one's for Luke."