Ward optimistic of quick return to fitness after sustaining facial fracture

Meath forward Cian Ward said he is "optimistic" that he will be back to full fitness soon, despite sustaining a fractured cheekbone in the A FL Div 1 encounter for his club Wolfe Tones against Walterstown on Sunday. Ward was the victim of a high tackle late in the second-half and was carried off with suspected concussion. It was later revealed that he had sustained a fractured cheekbone. Ward said yesterday (Tuesday) he was hopeful that he would be back playing for Wolfe Tones and Meath in the immediate future. He will get a better idea of the full extent of the injury when he attends St James's Hospital, Dublin, today (Wednesday), but he is almost certain to miss the NFL Div 2 game against Donegal at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday. However, the player wasn't completely ruling himself out of contention even for that game. "Thankfully it's not my jaw, it's my cheekbone and, while it is sore, like a pain in the face, I would hope to be back playing very soon, although I won't know for certain until I go up to the St James's fracture clinic and they can have a look at it," he said. "I would be an optimistic type of person and I would hope that I won't be out for long. I can eat fine and it's just uncomfortable at the moment," Ward added. He was reluctant to discuss the incident which led to the injury, except to say that it was sorted out there and then by the match official, John Farrelly from Syddan. "I don't know whether it was meant or not, it's neither here nor there, it was dealt with on the day by the referee and I'd prefer to leave it at that. "I would think I have a minor fracture, if anything, but I won't know for certain until I go to St James's Hospital and, after that, I should know how long I'll be out," he added. Wolfe Tones went on to win the game by 2-5 to 0-9 against a Walterstown team that ended up with 14 men after Gareth McGuinness was red-carded. Meath boss Seamus McEnaney will also be hopeful that Ward will be back to full fitness soon as the Meath manager already has to plan without Graham Reilly, Kevin Reilly and Stephen Bray. The referee's report will be considered at this week's Meath CCC meeting, which will take place on Thursday.