Cavan forward David Givney is set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines

CAVAN full-forward David Givney is poised for a long spell on the sidelines having been advised by his physio to take a complete break for up to five months.

Speaking in the wake of Cavan’s abrupt exit from the All-Ireland race in a 1-17 to 0-18 qualifier defeat to Derry almost a fortnight ago, the towering Mountnugent man is now almost certain to miss the entirety of his club’s upcoming championship campaign.

Givney hit the headlines with his two-goal salvo against Tyrone in their drawn Ulster SFC semi-final on June 19, but was forced off with a groin injury in their ill-fated replay and played no part in their qualifier matches against Carlow and Derry.

His absence was sorely felt in their narrow defeat to Derry, and he admits disappointment with how it all panned out.

He said: “Of course there’s disappointment, no-one goes out to lose, our goal was the Ulster title. It was our be-all and end-all, when the team sets out like that it can work against you in the qualifiers. It’s just how things worked out.

“Once a few injuries go against you, it can be hard to fill the void. It came at the wrong time of year. After the Tyrone game for a few days I was in a lot of pain, turning and tossing in pain at night. It’s still a struggle, doubling over in pain sometimes.

“It’s going to be a long-term injury. The physio advised to take a complete break of 16-19 weeks, I need to see a surgeon next week to see if I go down that route.”

The full interview with David Givney appears in today’s edition of Gaelic Life which is available in shops now or online here.