Doyle ruled out for rest of season

Down centre back Liam Doyle’s worst fears have been realised with the news that he will miss the rest of the year due to a serious knee injury.

The Liatroim clubman picked up the injury 20 minutes into last Sunday’s Ulster SFC semi-final against Armagh, and a scan has revealed that he suffered ligament damage and will require surgery.

It is sickening blow for the ace freetaker who has had more than his fair share of injury problems in recent years. He missed all of last season because of a series of injuries, and only returned to competitive action against Donegal in the Mourne County’s successful McKenna Cup campaign at the beginning of this year.

"It is very, very disappointing for Liam to be told on Thursday morning that he will have to have an operation. Unfortunately, the injury to his knee is as serious as initially feared and it will keep him out of football for the rest of the year," said Down PRO Diarmuid Cahill.

"He has been so unlucky with injuries. For one reason or another, Liam has missed the best part of four years, maybe five years, because of one serious injury after another.

"After being ruled out of the game in 2007, he worked so hard to get himself back into the county squad and fit again and this season he was probably back playing his best football."