Donegal's Darach O'Connor is the latest GAA star to be struck by the cruciate curse.

The young attacker, who started last year's All-Ireland final defeat to Kerry but hardly featured in this year's championship due to ongoing injury problems, is facing up to a year on the sidelines after suffering the dreaded knee injury.

The Buncrana clubman's injury is not only a blow to Donegal senior manager Rory Gallagher, but also to new U21 boss Declan Bonner. O'Connor, who's a son of former Roscommon star John 'Jigger' O'Connor, has lined out for the U21s for the past three years and would have been a key figure for them again in 2016.

"It's a huge blow to us because he has been involved with the U21s for the last couple of years and he would have been very important to us this year," Bonner told the Irish Examiner.

"Unfortunately, he has been plagued with injuries and this one will leave him out of action for a long time. His absence will be sorely felt by his club, the U21s and the senior team."

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