Finn Harps assistant manager Paul Hegarty echoed the thoughts of everyone at Finn Park tonight by offering his best wishes to the three players who were taken to hospital.
Striker BJ Banda was taken off in the first half and taken away in an ambulance after suffering a knee ligament injury, while goalkeeper Harry Doherty and defender Packie Mailey were removed to Letterkenny University Hospital after a clash of heads.
That incident resulted in a 25-minute stoppage and there were distressing scenes as the players were treated. Mailey was able to walk back to the clubhouse, but Doherty lay on the turf as medics attended to him.
Both players were taken by ambulance to be assessed, though they were said by club officials to have been conscious and alert.
“It’s really disappointing,” Hegarty said.
“What’s the chances of losing three players and going to hospital in the one match?
“We’ll just wait and see what the medical team says. The main thing is that the three boys come back and be okay.”
Harps saw captain Ciaran Coll replaced at half-time, due to a hip flexor problem.
Matthew Stevens’ header at the end proved the difference on a nigh when Dylan McCroary, Kealan McDermott and Ciaran Kelly made their debuts, with Gareth Doherty in for his first start.
Hegarty said: “Some of them done themselves absolutely no harm at all.”
Listen to the full interview below …
