DARRAGH and Ruairi Canavan have been ruled out of at least the first two of Tyrone’s games of the National Football League.
The brothers were both concussed while playing for Errigal Ciaran in Sunday’s All-Ireland senior club championship final against Dublin’s Cuala.
Both are reported to be “100 per cent now” but the GAA’s Concussion Guide states that athletes can typically expect a minimum of 15 days to complete the full rehabilitation strategy and that a return to playing sport can take up to one-month post-concussion.
Errigal skipper Darragh was forced off the field after 22 minutes following a roughhouse challenge from defender Danny Conroy as he stooped to gather the ball.
Equally gifted forward Ruairi played the entire game and scored three points as the Tyrone side threatened a famous comeback win after trailing by 13 points at a stage of the first half.
After the final whistle, manager Enda McGinley noticed that Ruairi was “well out of it” and both were taken to hospital for tests.
“Darragh came off and he was groggy,” he explained.
“He took a knee to the head, unfortunately. It happened close enough to me and when I went out to him I knew it was probably serious enough. You just can’t take risks with that.”
“Ruairi was the first player I went to after the match and he was well out of it. I’m not sure when he got hit, but unfortunately he was well dazed.”
Even if the Canavan brothers had come through the final unscathed they might well have been granted a fortnight’s grace – particularly if Errigal had won the All-Ireland – to rest and reset after a gruelling club campaign.
New manager Malachy O’Rourke guided Derry’s Glen to the All-Ireland club title last year so he is experienced enough to have been planning without the brilliant forward duo for the early stages of the National League.
Tyrone begin their Division One campaign against Derry in Omagh on Sunday and continue with another Ulster derby against All-Ireland champions Armagh the following week. Round three is a fortnight later (February 16) against Mayo at Healy Park.
