Dundalk could be without Brian Gartland for "six to eight weeks" after he suffered what looked like a broken wrist during tonight’s 1-1 Champions League second round qualifying first leg tie against FH Hafnarfjordur at Oriel Park.
After taking the lead through David McMillan, former Dundalk player Steven Lennon grabbed a priceless away goal for FC to take back to Iceland next week.
However, that all happened before Gartland suffered a first half injury to his wrist - which manager Stephen Kenny believes is broken - and had to leave the field on 43 minutes.
"We’ve a full week now until the next game and the players will realise we still have a great opportunity" - Stephen Kenny
Kenny told RTÉ Sport: “It was unfortunate. I don’t think he was quite right after that (injured on 15 minutes). He’s brave as a lion and wanted to stay on but it looks like he’s a broken wrist.”
Gartland now looks certain to miss the return leg, but Kenny believes it could be a while longer before the defender is back, adding: “He could be out for six to eight weeks with an injury like that. But we’ll have to wait and see how that goes.”
Kenny revealed his side were disappointed to concede a goal, especially after scoring one of such quality themselves, saying: “We’re quite disappointed in the manner of the goal we conceded.
"It was a tight game, I think at this level it’s always going to be like that, but we’re disappointed with ourselves really that we’ve conceded a goal.
“It was a great goal to take the lead, great break. Sean Gannon made a good pass to Patrick McEleney, brilliant cross and brilliant finish by David McMillan.”
Regardless, Kenny was adamant Dundalk’s away form means the tie is very much still alive.
He added: “It is only half time, our away record is generally better than our home form anyway and we’d always back ourselves to score in games.
“So it’s half time, it’s 1-1 and there’s still plenty to play for in the second leg.”
FC scorer Lennon played for the Lilywhites in 2010, although he hadn’t scored at Oriel Park until tonight, and while Kenny revealed the dressing room was down following his equaliser, he was sure they’d raise themselves for the return leg.
“Apparently he (Lennon) never scored a goal in his time here, but he’s obviously having a good season in Iceland. It’s just we should have dealt with the situation better ourselves.
“But listen, we had a few chances today, we took one of them and we should have been good enough to see that out.
“We’re disappointed at the minute but we haven’t lost the game. There is an air of despondency, it’s like a defeat in the dressing room, possibly because of the away goal.”
“We’ve a full week now until the next game and the players will realise we still have a great opportunity,” added Kenny.
