“He’ll be back” – Bannigan gutted as McCaul’s comeback ends in heartache

BOBBY McCaul made a major impact after coming into Monaghan’s All-Ireland Championship showdown against Mayo at half time but unfortunately picked up a nasty knee injury and was stretchered off before the end.

His brief involvement turned the tide as Monaghan trailed by 12-points at one stage to cut the deficit to the minimum by the time the final hooter sounded.

McCaul, who suffered the dreaded ACL injury last year, damaged the same knee during Monaghan’s 1-24 to 2-20 defeat to Any Moran’s side and manager Gabriel Bannigan said his dressing room was “gutted” for McCaul.

“I’m gutted for the lads and the result is the result but it’s particularly gutting for young Bobby McCaul there to come off with a bad knee injury. He’s just back after 12 months out,” said Bannigan of his Aughnamullen clubmate.

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“It’s an emotional dressing room, mainly because of that. He was brilliant, he was causing havoc but that’s unfortunately real bad luck for him and real back luck for us.

“We lost Ryan McAnespie in the first half as well and that was on top of losing Stephen O’Hanlon before the game so we’re not having a whole pile of luck.”

Bannigan did insist that McCaul is “made of bloody good stuff” and he’ll be back on the football field sooner rather than later.

“He’s only a kid and he suffered the ACL last year playing for the U20s so we haven’t had him. His first start was the Ulster final and the conditions didn’t really suit him,” he added.

“He came on against Cavan and came on against Derry and made a big impact. We brought him in at half time today and he was turning the game.

“Anything that was going in there, he was winning and he could have had a couple of goals before his injury and he got a great point.

“It’s such a shame, whatever about the game, it’s such a shame to see a young lad going off with a bad injury for the second year in a row. He’s made of bloody good stuff, he’ll be back.”

The defeat leaves Monaghan in last chance saloon now on the loser’s side of the draw which takes place on Tuesday morning. They won’t be able to meet Cavan or Derry again having already face both in the Ulster Championship.

That means their opponents will be one of the following: Kerry, Meath, Dublin, Kildare or Roscommon.