Surgery for McDonald

All-Ireland SFC 4th round qualifiers news: Laois footballer Brian "Beano" McDonald was taken immediately to Dublin's Mater hospital…

All-Ireland SFC 4th round qualifiers news: Laois footballer Brian "Beano" McDonald was taken immediately to Dublin's Mater hospital last night where he was operated on by surgeon Gerry McEntee for a double break of the tibia bone in his lower right leg.

The horrific injury occurred with 10 minutes to go when McDonald was sprinting for a ball with Ryan McMenamin. The Tyrone corner back immediately signalled for medical assistance and television replays showed the severity of the damage.

Dublin's Dessie Farrell also suffered a serious knee injury and is expected to be out for the coming weeks at least. He played only 12 minutes against Roscommon before suffering the damage to his medial ligaments.

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey

Gavin Cummiskey is The Irish Times' Soccer Correspondent