Any lingering hopes Kildare manger Kieran McGeeney had of deploying Mikey Conway against Tyrone have gone up in smoke with the news that he sustained cruciate ligament damage last weekend.
It had been hoped Conway had merely strained ligaments but an MRI scan yesterday revealed cruciate damage to his left knee. It is the second time in his career Conway has suffered the same injury.
McGeeney could yet call upon the services of Eamonn Callaghan, who has yet to prove he has overcome a groin problem.
Tyrone have already lost goalkeeper John Devine (shoulder) for Sunday’s clash at Croke Park and continue to monitor the fitness of forwards Ryan Mellon and Niall Gormley (both hamstring).