Dublin goalkeeper Evan Comerford
Dessie Farrell has been left with some form and injury headaches after a weekend that saw Dublin land their 14th consecutive Leinster SFC crown.
While a surprisingly fraught four-point victory over Louth was far from vintage Dublin, a bigger worry for Farrell is the knee injury for back-up ‘keeper Evan Comerford that could end his season.
The Ballymun Kickhams clubman had togged out in a Dublin adult league Division 1 clash against Na Fianna on Saturday night. Their Mobhi Road hosts won emphatically, but Comerford’s injury was the big talking point afterwards.
“Evan got what looks to be a bad knee injury last night in a club game, so he’s going to go for a scan obviously on Monday morning and we’ll know more then,” Farrell confirmed after Dublin’s 1-19 to 2-12 win at Croke Park.
Asked how fearful they were about the extent of his injury, the Dubs boss added: “We just don’t know at the minute. It didn’t look great but anyway we’ll see what Monday brings.”
Comerford was originally listed as sub to Stephen Cluxton in Dublin’s match-day squad, but his place went to David O’Hanlon in an enforced late change.
Dublin had started the game as 1/100 favourites against opponents managed by former Blues star Ger Brennan – but they actually trailed at half-time by 0-7 to 0-6, struggling to penetrate Louth’s very low defensive block.
Con O’Callaghan’s 55th-minute goal proved decisive in breaking Louth’s brave and disciplined resistance, although they did breach Cluxton’s goal twice either side of that score, through Ciarán Keenan and then Craig Lennon in stoppage-time.
“Disappointed with the two goals we conceded, probably softish goals from our perspective,” Farrell admitted. “But overall happy with the win and Louth, great credit to them, they put up a stellar performance and were in it right to the bitter end potentially.”
