Conor Kearns will face an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury while playing for Dundalk in a 5-0 win over Waterford. Manager Ciaran Kilduff confirmed the goalkeeper, who is on loan from Shelbourne, will require surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation after the injury, which forced a 17-minute delay before he was taken off the pitch by ambulance.
Premier Division is the top football competition in the Republic of Ireland. The league consists of 10 teams. Each team will play each other three times, a total of 36 matches in the season. The top team in the Premier Division enters the UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds. The bottom club is relegated, while the second-from-bottom plays the second-from-top of the First Division for the final spot in the Premier Division.