It has emerged that three Cavan players have withdrawn themselves from the senior squad ahead of next Saturday week's first round All-Ireland qualifier meeting with Kildare at Newbridge. Donal Keogan will have to plan without Michael McDonald, Declan Gaffney and John Cunningham for his side's clash with the Lilywhites after the trio did not return to county training last week. McDonald played at centre-field from the start against Antrim in Cavan's five-point win over the Saffrons in the preliminary rounds of the Ulster SFC back in May and scored two points. However the Drumgoon man found it a bit more difficult against Armagh in the quarter-final at Kingspan/Breffni Park last month where he was withdrawn after 22 minutes and has decided not to return to the panel for the Kildare clash. Both Gaffney and Cunningham have put their reasons for departure down to fitness, but neither has played a part in the Breffni County's Championship campaign to date. The news is the last thing Donal Keogan will have wanted after ace forward Sean Johnston recently went over his ankle in training and is racing to be fit for the Newbridge encounter, while utility man Ronan Flanagan (hamstring) looks to be a major doubt for the game. Although none of the exited trio started for Cavan in last year's All-Ireland Championship, the news echoes that of when Johnston, Paul Brady and Martin Cahill all left the squad in mid-Championship last year to play for St Brendan's in Chicago before Cavan went out of the qualifiers to Mayo at Castlebar. Tweet

Most Read Stories