O’Keeffe sidelined as Dundalk head to Wexford

Dundalk FC will once again be without the services of Conor O’Keeffe as they make the journey to Ferrycarrig Park to take on Wexford in the SSE Airtricity League First Division this Friday evening (kick-off, 7:45pm).

The Mullingar native suffered a head injury during Dundalk’s recent 2-1 victory away to Cobh Ramblers and was consequently absent for their subsequent 2-0 triumph over Kerry at Oriel Park, a match in which Aodh Dervin was called upon to deputise at right-back.

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Manager Ciaran Kilduff has confirmed that O’Keeffe will not be available to face his former side this weekend, as The Lilywhites prepare for their final outing before the league pauses for its mid-season break.

“It’s not ideal,” he said to The Democrat. “Conor got a bang on the head down in Cobh and had some symptoms afterwards. He’s got assessed and we’re still waiting for the exact diagnosis, but he’s looking at a few weeks on the sideline.

“Hopefully the break is coming at the right time. We’ve got Wexford, then a two-week break before UCD, so hopefully he’ll get a bit of a breather there and he’ll bounce back.”

The Lilywhites will also be without defender Sean McHale for the trip to Wexford due to an ankle injury, while long-term absentees Norman Garbett and Ethen Vaughan remain out with hamstring problems.

Wexford come into the game fresh from a 2-1 win over Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds—a result that, combined with Dundalk’s victory over Kerry, saw Kilduff’s men open up a six-point lead at the top of the table.

“We haven’t had an easy game yet,” he remarked, as he looked ahead to his side’s trip to Ferrycarrig Park, a venue where Dundalk have suffered defeat only once in their previous eight visits. 

“That has kept us firmly grounded at times. Yes, we’re top of the league, we’re a few points clear, but there’s no easy game and we are literally finding that week after week.

“We went down to Cobh and had a great performance and a great win, and then (against Kerry) was just a bit flatter, but we got another three points.

“We’ll be going to Wexford knowing that we’re going to have to give everything of ourselves again. We’re going to have to be better in aspects, and we’re going to have to dust off and enjoy the break and come back and finish the season strong.”

With the summer transfer window set to open in just over a month, Kilduff reaffirmed his intention to strengthen the squad—though only if the right players become available.

“We have to sit down this week at the club and realise what we need going forward,” he said. “We know there’s players that are available.

“It’s hard to do business in the window, but when there’s players available, of course you’re going to be interested in a few, but it’s only if we need them. It won’t be for the sake of it.

“It’ll be: can someone strengthen our hand and get us to the end of the season as strong as we are now? If someone comes up who fits the bill, of course we’d be interested. 

“For where we want to go, even if we don’t go up or we do go up, we want to push on, and we’re going to need quality—senior quality.

“We’ve a lot of quality here as is, but we’ve a lot of young quality, and them lads are brilliant and you’d go to war with them, but of course there’s that middle section of player that we’d like to bring into the group and take us to the next level.”

One player Kilduff will be especially keen to retain is 17-year-old defender Vinnie Leonard, who has attracted interest from abroad, with Italian side Genoa closely monitoring his progress, while French giants Lille and Lyon are also keeping a watchful eye on the promising youngster.

“I know nothing about any of it,” the Dundalk boss said, responding to speculation linking the Meath native with a move away from Oriel.

“I know Vinnie is doing brilliant. I wouldn’t be surprised if everyone is looking at him. He’s a 17-year-old with a huge future in front of him, but I know nothing.

“It’s great to see these young lads going and having great careers, and if that’s what’s in Vinnie’s future too, I’ll be delighted for him. But right now, he’s a Dundalk player.

“He’s playing well, he’s enjoying his football. He’s not even in Leaving Cert yet—he’s still only in fifth year, it’s hard to believe—so I’m hoping, and I’m confident, that Vinnie’s here for the time being.”