McManus injury blow for Saffrons

Forward Neil McManus is a rising star for Antrim hurlers

Antrim hurlers could be without star forward Neil McManus for the remainder of the Allianz National League.

McManus is certain to miss Sunday's clash against Waterford in Dungarvan as he has been told to rest because of a double stress fracture in his back.

The Cushendall man has been troubled by a stress fracture for three years and he has now been told that he has the second ailment and may require surgery.

"It's a blow because Antrim are going well at the moment," said McManus.

To make matters worse for the Saffrons, Neil McGarry is also certain to miss the Dungarvan contest because of an ankle injury while Neil McAuley remains on the injured list because of a prolapsed disk.

Nineteen-year-old McManus is holding out some hope that he might be able to play in the following games against Cork and Kilkenny but he acknowledges that his league campaign may be over.

"I'll definitely not be playing this weekend and we'll see what happens with the other two games but it's probably unlikely.

"It's very disappointing. Over the next three or four weeks we are playing the best three teams in Ireland and nobody wants to miss those kind of games.

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"Also, the league has taken on a whole new significance for us this year because of the Championship lay-out (our reduced amount of games) so we've been trying to take as much as possible from the league."

McManus has been getting regular treatment from Antrim physio Fergal Leonard.

The Antrim medic told BBC Sport that McManus will have another MRI scan in a number of weeks.

"We'll be hoping that the period of rest helps Neil but we will be guided by the specialist after the scan is done in terms of whether surgery is required," said Leonard.

"He developed the first stress fracture when he was 16 and it's an injury which is very common in hurlers and cricketers, sports where there is a lot of twisting of the back.

"We've been trying to restrict the amount of work he's been doings but he has a lot of hurling given that he plays for his university as well.

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"It needs to be carefully managed because if it wasn't, the injury could be career-threatening.

"At the moment, he is restricted to aqua-jogging and we will have to see what the verdict is when we get the next MRI."

Meanwhile, Antrim are unhappy after the GAA refused to agree to their request for an early throw-in time for Sunday's NHL game in Dungarvan.

Waterford had agreed to Antrim's request and the Gaelic Players Association has joined Antrim in hitting out at the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee's decision.

"Given that a significant proportion of the squad will be travelling from north Antrim, the appeal made by the Antrim Co Board is perfectly reasonable on player welfare grounds," said a GPA statement.

"In the context of this request, it is worth pointing out just how accommodating players have been in recent years where fixture scheduling has taken place to facilitate television, Saturday ties and midweek games.

"Having already made representations, we again call on the CCCC, at this late stage, to reverse their decision and grant Antrim an earlier throw-in time," added the GPA.