FEARS that Galway football star Damien Comer had suffered a season-ending knee injury at Pearse Stadium last Sunday have been allayed.

The Annaghdown clubman was stretchered off in a National League tie against Roscommon after landing awkwardly when contesting a high ball.

The initial concern was that the All-Star attacker had suffered cruciate damage, but a scan on Tuesday revealed that the injury is not nearly as bad as first suspected.

It showed that there was no issue with Comer’s cruciate ligaments, but rather severe bone swelling which will require a recouperation period of around six to eight weeks.

The injury doesn’t require surgery – subject to a reassessment of Comer’s progress during his rehab – but he will miss the remainder of Galway’s Division One campaign.

Hopes are high, however, that he will have recovered in time to face either Mayo or Roscommon in the Connacht semi-final on April 23.

Comer’s early departure last Sunday set the tone for a sluggish display in a dour match which saw the Rossies overcome a four-point second-half deficit to snatch victory with an injury-time score from substitute Richard Hughes.

The result leaves Galway still chasing their first victory of the campaign, with their next outing coming up against Tyrone at Tuam Stadium on Sunday week.

At least, Comer’s injury not being as serious as first believed is a welcome development given that the Tribesmen are already down two regulars from last year’s team – Liam Silke and Kieran Molloy – while injuries currently sideline Rob Finnerty and Patrick Kelly.

Furthermore, Shane Walsh, who lit up Croke Park in the All-Ireland final against Kerry last July, remains unavailable in the short term as he is on a break in Australia.

Against that background, if Comer had been ruled out for the rest of 2023, it would have represented a potentially crippling blow to Galway’s championship hopes.