Yahoo News Marty Clarke predicts bright future for Down prospect after cruel injury blow ahead of Tailteann Cup final
Down coach Marty Clarke feels Oisin Savage has a great future ahead of him, but bemoaned his absence ahead of next weekend’s Tailteann Cup final.
The Mournemen take on Laois at Croke Park on Saturday, July 13 as they bid to go one better after losing out to Meath in last year’s decider.
However, they’ll be without Savage after the Loughinisland attacker suffered a broken jaw in the semi-final win over Sligo last month.
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Nathan Mullen was issued a straight red card for the challenge and Clarke revealed that Savage underwent surgery on his broken jaw on the day of his 21st birthday.
“Unfortunately, he had to spend the night in the Mater hospital in Dublin,” said Clarke.
“He then got surgery on his jaw the following day. He did have concussion but, thankfully, he is clear of any serious brian injury. It was one of those ones that wasn’t nice with the double impact with the opposition player and then when he hit the ground.
“Unfortunately, he spent his 21st birthday under the knife, which is never a nice thing. The only compensation we have is that, in that moment, his courage helped swing it and get us over the line.
“Certainly, he is a player for the future and he is going to be a big loss for the final. We are wishing him well and, hopefully, he’ll get his spirits lifted if we can get the job done against Laois.”
Last year’s Ulster U20 Footballer of the Year is, at present, the only player ruled out of the game, which is a repeat of last year’s semi-final meeting between the sides which Down won convincingly on a scoreline of 8-16 to 2-12.
The Tailteann Cup decider is the first part of a double-header at Croke Park and is followed by the All-Ireland SFC semi-final clash between Armagh and Kerry.
Just over one week out from the game, Clarke is hoping Down can maintain a clean bill of health.
“We are in very good shape and are in a really good place and have been for a number of weeks now - touch wood, we stay there,” added the Down coach.”
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