Ronan Curtis’ remarkable recovery from a freak hand injury allowed him to help Portsmouth to victory in yesterday’s Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley.
The St Johnston man looked in danger of missing Pompey’s big date at Wembley after severing a finger just two weeks ago. Curtis required plastic surgery after getting his finger jammed in a door as he left his home to go to a game against Walsall.
Curtis had to miss the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2020 qualifier wins against Gibraltar and Georgia having initially been named in Mick McCarthy’s squad.
However, Curtis was determined not to miss Portsmouth’s big day and he played 56 minutes of yesterday’s final against Sunderland having been elevated into Kenny Jackett’s starting XI.
Portsmouth prevailed 5-4 on penalties after a dramatic 2-2 draw.
Aiden McGeady – whose Gaoth Dobhair grandfather enabled him to line out for Ireland – put Sunderland ahead, only for Nathan Thompson to draw Portsmouth level.
Jamal Lowe looked to have won it for Portsmouth, but McGeady’s last-gasp leveller forced penalties. It was Portsmouth who kept their nerve and Curtis, signed from Derry City last summer, is toasting a first slice of silverware in English football.
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