Experienced Tyrone defender Cathal McCarron needs an operation on his injured knee

TYRONE defender Cathal McCarron has received a devastating personal blow as a dislocated kneecap has ruled him out of action for the rest of the championship.

An MRI scan on Monday revealed that his knee injury is worse than first feared, and he will undergo an operation next week ahead of Tyrone’s winner-take-all clash against Donegal on Ballybofey on Sunday.

McCarron sustained the injury just 15 minutes into Tyrone’s ‘Super Eight’ victory over Roscommon a fortnight ago and played no part in their defeat to Dublin on Saturday evening at Healy Park.

The rumour mill went into overdrive after the experienced defender posted a cryptic tweet on Monday which read “When you get news that you didn’t want to hear, be grateful for the opportunity that you got and for what you have around you” and Gaelic Life can confirm that he will play no further part in Tyrone’s championship campaign.

It’s a long road back for McCarron, who is the only remaining link to the 2008 All-Ireland winning team alongside Colm Cavanagh and manager Mickey Harte. The 31-year-old had been a regular starter for Tyrone again this season, earning championship starts against Monaghan, Carlow, Cork and Roscommon as well as making an appearance from the bench against Cavan.