Cork City's Cathal O’Sullivan out for the rest of the season with an ACL injury 

Cathal O’Sullivan will miss the rest of the season with Cork City after suffering an ACL injury during last week’s 3-2 defeat to Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross.

The winger left the Turner’s Cross pitch after 20 minutes of last Friday’s defeat to Sligo Rovers clutching his left knee and scans have confirmed the grim news of a prolonged layoff.

The Leesider only returned from a long ACL layoff last year to help City win the First Division in his first senior season, securing an immediate top-flight return.

The 18-year-old attacker is currently linked with a move to a number of Premier League clubs, including Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace, and this has paused any cross-channel move for a player that will be out of contract at the end of the year.

Despite a season of struggle for City, in which they remain 11 points adrift at the foot of the table with 11 games left, O’Sullivan’s displays have been a rare bright spot. He made his Ireland U21 debut against Croatia during the summer window.

Cork City confirmed this news on Tuesday afternoon, with a short statement by Gerard Nash.

“We are all absolutely gutted for Cathal to have suffered this injury,” he told the club’s media team.

“As everybody knows, he is a really talented player with a very promising future, so this is a big setback for him, but we will all rally around him and support him. 

"I have no doubt that he will come back stronger from this, and we will all support him in doing so.” 

O’Sullivan started the game with Sligo Rovers and was forced off in the 20th minute, to be replaced by Alex Nolan.

The teenager is the second player in the squad to have their season cut short through injury, with Ruairi Keating sidelined until the new year after rupturing his Achilles tendon during a defeat to Derry City at the Brandywell.

This draws a definitive line for O’Sullivan during a period where many expected the teenager to move to the United Kingdom for a fee.

Nottingham Forest were one of the first clubs to make their interest known, with Andy Reid sent over to watch the attacker during a Premier Division game with Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross.

O’Sullivan was also brought over to London for a tour of Crystal Palace’s facilities, which only amplified questions about the future of a player that once lined out locally for Riverstown and Leeside AFC.

“It’s naturally going to happen,” former Cork City manager Tim Clancy addressed O’Sullivan’s future after helping the team defeat Waterford on Easter Monday.

“We’re not at a stage as an industry in this country where we can hold onto players of that talent. 

"It’s the same with Mason Melia and hopefully (Shamrock Rovers manager) Stephen Bradley doesn’t take offence when I say Michael Noonan will more than likely leave at some stage too.

“Mason’s deal has broken the ceiling for transfer fees. For us to create that industry for academies and facilities, it needs to be built on the back of those transfers.

“We’re not thinking of that (loan) anyway. From a footballer’s point of view, as a young lad who gets a good move, I wouldn’t want to go back where I was.” 

O’Sullivan is now out for at least nine months, with the earliest return date estimated between six to nine months.

Meanwhile, Cork City Women have also confirmed that Fiana Bradley has left the club to join Waterford.  Last week Kiera Sena left to join Southampton.

Cork City face Shelbourne at home on Saturday at 5pm looking to cause a huge upset and beat league title favourites Shelbourne to end their run of very poor results in the league.