Injury blow for Dundalk as goalkeeper Kearns set for surgery

Dundalk FC goalkeeper Conor Kearns is set to undergo surgery after sustaining a serious knee injury during his side’s 5–0 SSE Airtricity League Premier Division victory over Waterford on Friday night.

The 27-year-old, who is on loan from Shelbourne, was injured after gathering the ball away from Waterford striker Padraig Amond. Kearns appeared to twist awkwardly on his knee as he secured possession, prompting an extended stoppage in play.

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Medical staff attended to the goalkeeper for approximately 18 minutes before he was removed from the field on a stretcher and transferred to an ambulance.

Dundalk manager Ciaran Kilduff confirmed on Saturday morning that Kearns will require surgery and faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

“We made a really good account of ourselves against Waterford, but of course we are thinking of Conor Kearns following his injury,” Kilduff said.

“The team and I have been in contact with Conor and he is receiving great care. It’s obviously a substantial knee injury and he will undergo surgery. This will be followed by an extensive lay-off and rehabilitation period.

“He has played a big role already at the club. He will have the support of the entire club and everyone wishes him a quick recovery.”

Speaking immediately after the final whistle, Kilduff had expressed the club’s concern for the injured goalkeeper.

“We’re all just gutted for Conor,” he told The Democrat. “He’s a huge player and a huge signing for us this year. He’s a great character and person, and obviously an incident like that — no one likes to see any player in that kind of distress. We’re all obviously gutted.

“I’m on the other side of the pitch, but by all accounts he dislocated his knee quite severely. I think they might have had to do a couple of things with him on the pitch there to get it reset.”

Kilduff said he did not believe the artificial surface at Oriel Park had necessarily played any part in the injury sustained by Kearns.

“They’re part and parcel of the game,” he said. “I was managing Athlone a couple of years ago, and Chloe Singleton was a player for me in Tolka Park. She suffered a horrific injury like that with her ankle.

“It’s just another one of those things — they happen in the game. They can happen at any time, whether it’s grass or astroturf. It’s just unfortunate.”

With second-choice goalkeeper Enda Minogue absent from the matchday squad after suffering a concussion in training during the week, and Leo Stritter yet to receive international clearance, it fell to goalkeeping coach Peter Cherrie to step in for the closing stages.

Cherrie, who turns 43 later this year, played the final five minutes along with 17 minutes of stoppage time. Kilduff said afterwards he had not yet decided who will assume the first-choice role going forward.

“We’ll have to assess it,” he said. “Obviously we lost Conor Kearns tonight. We had an issue with Leo Stritter’s international clearance, and Enda also picked up a knock yesterday in training. So yeah — when it rains, it pours.”