Finn Harps teen Darragh Coyle suffers cruciate ligament injury
The Burt native was stretchered off in the early moments of the recent friendly against Ballinamallard United and is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines
Finn Harps youngster Darragh Coyle has suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury.
Coyle's season is over and the 17-year-old is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
The Burt man was stretchered off in the early moments of the recent friendly against Ballinamallard United at Finn Park.
Confirmation of the dreaded injury, a grade 3 tear in his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), arrived on Tuesday.
Coyle will now go to the Sports Surgery Clinic in Santry on Friday-week to discuss the next steps with medics.
“It is heartbreaking news for Darragh,” Finn Harps manager Darren Murphy told Donegal Live.
“He signed his first professional deal at the club at the start of the season and has broken into the first team.
“He is a very popular member of the squad. This is a tough injury for him, but everyone a the football club will do all we can do to support him in his recovery.
“It's disappointing because Darragh has been brilliant for us. He has forced his way in to play minutes in big games and I had no fear about throwing him in.
“Darragh is a Finn Harps boy, one of our own, so everyone will rally around and we'll hope to see Darragh around Finn Park.”
Coyle – who is a younger brother of Shelbourne midfielder and former Harps player Mark Coyle - played nine games for Harps this season having signed his first senior contract last November.
Harps return to First Division action on Friday night when they welcome fellow play-off hopefuls Bray Wanderers to Finn Park.