Dublin may be without Michael Darragh Macauley for the rest of 2017

This could really hurt Dublin.

2013 Footballer of the Year Michael Darragh Macauley looks like he could miss the remainder of the footballing season just as provincial championships are set to get into full swing. According to the Herald, Macauley has been struggling with knee and foot problems since Dublin’s unsuccessful defence of the Allianz League title. Initially, Macauley went for a scan on his foot, which then unearthed a more serious knee injury. The 30-year-old played for his club, Ballyboden St Enda’s, in a Dublin SFC first round class against St Oliver Plunkett’s at the end of April but has not featured since, after being substituted towards the end of the game. He did not play against Whitehall Colmcille at the weekend. Macauley has been a stalwart for Dublin football for the past six years, featuring in each of the five All-Ireland Final appearances that they’ve reached since 2011. After undergoing a fresh scan, it was discovered that Macauley has been playing with a more serious problem than previously thought. The midfielder may need to undergo surgery that could rule him out for the remainder of the year and the option of rehabilitating the injury is being looked into. Dublin begin their defence of the Leinster Championship on June 3 when they play the winner of Sunday's first round clash between Wexford and Carlow.