CLARE DEFENDER OISIN O’Brien is set to miss the rest of the season after damaging his cruciate ligament, his second serious knee injury in the space of six months.

The news was confirmed to Club Clare members on Thursday by joint Banner bosses Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor.

O’Brien fell awkwardly and was stretchered off during Clare’s Division 1A defeat against Tipperary last Sunday. MRI scans on the injury this week subsequently confirmed his fears and revealed cruciate damage.

The cruel news comes just weeks after O’Brien returned to action in the Clare full-back line. Sidelined with a cruciate strain since last October, he sat out the opening league defeat against Cork before returning at corner-back for the win against Kilkenny.

It is a second injury blow in quick succession as Clare continue their bid to retain their Division 1 title. Shane O’Donnell, hat-trick hero in the 2013 All-Ireland final replay, was effectively ruled out for the remainder of the league campaign earlier this week.

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