I was out cold, I’d need video to see if injury was deliberate CAVANAGH IN DARK BUT IS KEEN TO PUT CLUB CLASH BEHIND HIM
DONEGAL star Ryan Mchugh is awaiting an MRI scan before he can return to football. Mchugh was out for a period earlier this year with suspected concussion and then sustained a high tackle in a challenge match with St Vincent’s of Dublin recently.
The news comes in the same week his Kilcar clubmate Conor Mcshane warned that the diminutive All-star could be forced out of the game due to “continued targeting” and “referees not making the correct decisions” to protect the defender.
Donegal star Mchugh (left) said: “I don’t really know [about return to football] as I am working closely with Dr Kevin Moran. I have another MRI scan in a couple of weeks so it will tell more hopefully.”
The news is a blow for his club Kilcar as they fight to retain the county title they claimed last year for the first time since 1993.
Mchugh added: “Your team mates always look out for you that is great. Hopefully I can be back later on in the season and hopefully the club can keep winning.
“There is no date set yet for the MRI scan as I am waiting for the doctor to get back to me.” SEAN CAVANAGH says he won’t judge if the sickening clash which left him with serious facial injuries was accidental or not until he sees the video footage.
The ex-tyrone skipper suffered a broken nose, concussion and facial injuries during his club Moy’s Senior Football Championship defeat by Edendork on Saturday.
Cavanagh has revealed he’s had “bits of dialogue” with the opposing player but was tight-lipped about whether he’s been given an apology.
Asked whether he believed the clash to be deliberate, Cavanagh admitted: “I honestly don’t know, I haven’t seen it. That’s the reality of it”.
The game was videoed by the Tyrone county board who are investigating the incident, and the mass brawl which erupted during Stewartstown’s intermediate football clash with Strabane on Friday night.
Due process means Cavanagh is unlikely to be given access to the TV footage until the internal investigation is complete.
“It’s like everything, everyone has an opinion on what happened but I don’t have one until I see it. I was knocked out, it was a heavy knock.
“Seeing it won’t change anything at this point I suppose. I’m on the recovery route, that’s the main thing.”
Asked if he had spoken directly to the player who collided with him, Cavanagh said: “There’s been bits of dialogue but I’d prefer not to say too much”.
The incident received widespread national coverage after a shocking picture of the three-time All-ireland winner appeared on social media.
Cavanagh, 35, who still intends to play for his club next year, claimed: “I only posted a thank-you message and then it’s on Whatsapp.
“I had sent it to a friend and then all of a sudden it appears everywhere.
“That wasn’t for public consumption but it very quickly became that way.”
Ironically Cavanagh was speaking at a Sport NI event in Belfast (above) to raise awareness of concussion.
“Concussion is something that’s been close to my heart for a number of years so I wasn’t going to duck out just because of this (injury),” he added. “It’s not nice but look, I just have to deal with it. Concussion is a big part of sport nowadays.”
Reacting to yesterday’s report published by the GAA on Tuesday regarding the growing impact of inter-county commitments on players, Cavanagh is worried the best players won’t be able to commit longterm.
“I’ve watched the game become much more demanding time-wise from when I started back in 2002”.
“It’s gone from a four, five-hour week to the 31 hours which is practically a working week.
“The one thing I wouldn’t want to see is players choose a career that maybe lowers their ambitions to allow them to be county footballers.”