Louth GAA Hit by Niall Sharkey’s Departure to Australia
Louth Senior team manager Ger Brennan has received a major selection blow for the remainder of the All-Ireland SFC series with the news that Niall Sharkey is heading to Australia next week. The news broke on Sunday night, confirming that the Glyde Rangers star will miss the rest of the championship.
Sharkey has been a pivotal player in Louth’s recent run of success. He made a significant impact as a substitute in the Leinster Quarter-Final win over Wexford, started in the semi-final victory over Kildare, and played in the narrow Leinster Final defeat to Dublin. In the current All-Ireland series, he contributed to the victory over Meath and the recent draw against Monaghan.
The 2022 Louth Senior Footballer of the Year had initially planned to move to the US at the end of last year but postponed those plans. Now, his move to Australia means he will be unavailable for Louth’s crucial remaining matches, starting with the Group game against Kerry the weekend after next.
Adding to Brennan’s concerns, he will also be closely monitoring the fitness of Ciaran Downey. The Newtown Blues forward was forced off in the closing stages of the match in Clones, and the extent of his injury is being assessed this week. Craig Lennon also exited the field early in Clones on Sunday, compounding the team’s challenges.
With these setbacks, Ger Brennan faces a tough task as he prepares Louth for their upcoming clashes in the All-Ireland series.
