Kerry midfielder Joe O'Connor has been dealt a cruel blow just months after leading his county to their first All-Ireland since 2014.
It's been confirmed by The Kerryman newspaper that the Austin Stacks midfielder has sustained an ACL injury that could keep him out of action for as long as nine months.
It's the second injury he's shipped to his right knee this year having overcome a ligament problem early in their ultimately successful inter-county campaign.
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That sidelined him for the bulk of their league effort before he got himself back to full fitness and re-established himself as a frequent participant in their All-Ireland run as he came off the bench in three Championship affairs including the final against Galway while he started versus Cork.
This latest misfortune befell him in the first half of his club's SFC victory over Na Gaeil on Friday.
His presumed loss from the Kerry panel for the entirety of the 2023 season compounds another season-long loss for boss Jack O'Connor since forward Jack Savage will be moving to Dubai.
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