McGovern and Rooney blow for senior footballers

Down’s hopes of upsetting Tyrone in their Ulster SFC opener at Healy Park on June 8 have been dealt a double blow with the news that both Ciaran McGovern and Declan Rooney have been ruled out through injury.

McGovern will be sidelined for two months with a knee injury, while full back and former captain Rooney will miss six to eight weeks due to a hernia problem.

McGovern was injured in the early stages of the recent NFL defeat to Fermanagh in Newry, while Declan Rooney went through a hernia operation earlier today, which will mean he is out for up to eight weeks.