Laois teenage ace John O'Loughlin is set to be sidelined with a broken jaw he sustained while playing for his club Mountmellick Friday evening last. The incident happened ten minutes from the end of Mountmellick's county senior football championship clash with Emo in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise, where his family allege that the 19-year-old picked up a blow from an Emo player while moving from full-forward out to centre-field. O'Loughlin saw out the game and was brought to Portlaoise hospital afterwards where he was diagnosed with a compound fracture of his left jaw and visited a clinic in Dublin yesterday where he underwent further examination. John's father, Larry, revealed that copies of the consultant's report would be sent to the Laois County Board, the Leinster Council and Croke Park. "We need proper procedures to protect players. This isn't just about John, it's about any player who sustains an injury like this in an off-the-ball incident. "He has no recollection of the final ten minutes or of the point he scored. During that time, he also took a few more heavy belts. We are asking for the matter to be fully investigated," he said. With his son now sidelined for two months with the injury, Larry has questioned the Association's protection of young players. "All he wants to do is play for his club and his county but when something like this happens it makes you wonder what's going on in the GAA," added O'Loughlin. Laois County Board Secretary Niall Handy said the Board are awaiting the referee's report from the game before deciding whether or not to take any action. "There are procedures in place and we will adhere to them. The first step in that process is to consider the referee's report," said Handy. Tweet

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