Ankle injury to keep Jack Keaney out for a month

Jack Keaney looks set for a month on the sideline after picking up an ankle injury on Friday night.

The Donegal Town man had to be replaced five minutes into the second half of UCD’s 2-1 win over Finn Harps at The UCD Bowl.

Keaney had just returned from suspension to aid UCD in a huge win over Harps, which sees the Students leapfrog Ollie Horgan’s team.

Former Sligo Rovers player Keaney was helped off after going down awkwardly and was taken to hospital for assessment after the game.

“He turned his ankle and he’s in a bit of pain,” UCD manager Andy Myler said.

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“Hopefully it’s not too bad, but you’d be thinking three or four weeks. It looks like it’s that sort of an ankle sprain.”

UCD came from behind to win. Filip Mihaljević put Harps ahead with an 18th minute penalty only for Donal Higgins to level three minutes later.

UCD saw Dara Keane sent off, but a brilliant winner from Evan Caffrey earned them a third win of the season.

Myler said: “It’s important, but it’s only a win. There is too long to go in the season for that to be entirely consequential. We’re more happy with the second-half performance and keeping this run that we’re on going.

“We’re looking for consistency with a young team and we’re getting that now. That’s the most pleasing thing.

“The guys here are always on a learning journey. Training over the last few weeks has been fantastic and the penny has dropped on a few things. Even the way we defended the lead shows that learning is kicking in. We’re getting harder to play against at certain points in games.”

Caffrey, Evan Duffy and Tommy Lonergan, who all started for UCD, are still eligible to play for the club’s under-19s.

Myler said: “It’s very early to ask them to go into the Premier Division, play week-in, week-out and be consistent. It takes a bit of time. Fellas are becoming more streetwise and getting cuter. We showed in the second half that we have grown up a small bit.”