CORK FOOTBALLER RUAIRI Deane suffered suspected damage to his cruciate ligament in today’s Munster senior football final against Kerry.
Bantry Blues player Deane was introduced during the first half of the game in Páirc Uí Chaoimh as a blood substitute.
But he fell to the ground in agony in the 20th minute as he landed awkwardly after twisting his knee when trying to challenge Kerry attacker James O’Donoghue.
Deane previously damaged his knee in training with Cork in early March and it looked at that stage as if his season was over as it was suspected he had torn his cruciate.
But subsequent scans revealed the injury was not as serious as first thought and he rejoined the Cork squad.
Disaster struck today and manager Brian Cuthbert confirmed afterwards that it looks like Deane has suffered the season-ending injury.
Deane, a Munster U21 winner with Cork in 2012, burst onto the senior scene this year after being part of the county’s All-Ireland junior side last summer.