McManus worry among Saffron woes

Forward Neil McManus is a rising star for Antrim hurlers

Antrim hurlers look certain to be without Neil McManus and Neil McAuley for this year's Championship.

McManus' double stress fracture in his back is continuing to cause major concerns and there are fears it could be career threatening.

His fellow 19-year-old McAuley is booked in for an operation in Scotland on Monday in an attempt to fix a nagging disc problem.

McAuley's best case scenario is a return to action within three months.

However, Antrim's campaign is likely to be long over by that stage as their season will be expected to end when they face Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers on 28 June.

Saffron joint-manager Sambo McNaughton acknowledges that it's extremely unlikely that Cushendall lad McManus will play any hurling this summer for county or club.

"He's getting physio at SINI (the Sports Institute of Northern Ireland) and doing a weights programme to try and strengthen the muscles in his lower body but he's hardly likely to hurl this year," McNaughton told BBC Sport.

"Big time, it's a blow for the lad himself as well as the county and his club.

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"He's only 19 years old but there's no guarantee that he'll hurl again.

"With Neil McAuley, the best scenario is that he'll be back in three months and maybe might be able to play for the under-21s later on in the summer.

"It's tough for these two 19-year-old lads both probably facing surgery so early in their careers.

"I put it down to pure bad luck.

"There are playing a lot of hurling but I was playing for Antrim at the age of 16 and I remember once playing for Antrim minors, under-21s and the senior all in the same day."

To make matters worse for the Saffrons, Johnny Campbell's recent hernia operation in Germany does not appear to have proved a success.

"Apparently, there is only a four per cent chance of that happening but that was the case with Johnny's operation," added McNaughton.

There's a strong likelihood of fellows being offered work in America and maybe the chance to play hurling in America so that's an additional worry for us Sambo McNaughton

"They are now having to take a look at it again before deciding what to do."

There are also concerns that Aaron Graffin may require a hernia operation while Mickey McCambridge, Paddy Magill and Michael Magill are also nursing hamstring strains.

The recent downturn in the building trade is also causing concerns for the Antrim management.

Around a dozen of the squad work in the construction industry and several players are finding it difficult to secure employment at the moment.

"There's a strong likelihood of fellows being offered work in America and maybe the chance to play hurling in America so that's an additional worry for us."

Antrim play their Ulster Championship semi-final against either Derry, Cavan, Monaghan or Donegal on 1 June.

The Ulster final is scheduled for 15 June before the Saffrons take on Galway a fortnight later.