Meath surgeon credited with saving teen soccer star's life

Former Meath footballer, Gerry McEntee, was the surgeon who operated on Republic of Ireland defender Shane Duffy in an emergency procedure after the Everton player was involved in a freak accident during an international game on Friday. The Football Association of Ireland (FAI) has paid tribute to Mr McEntee and his team at the Mater Hospital for saving the 18 year-old player's life. Duffy needed the emergency surgery after rupturing the blood supply to his liver in what medical staff describe as 'freak accident' while on international duty. He suffered the injury during a match between Giovanni Trapattoni's Republic of Ireland development squad and the Ireland amateur side. The Everton centre-back collided with goalkeeper Adrian Walsh and received on-pitch medical attention before being brought to hospital. FAI medical staff say the 18 year-old's life was saved as a result of the operation carried out by Gerry McEntee at the Mater Hospital. After a period in intensive care, he has since been moved to a recovery ward. Republic of Ireland team surgeon Professor John O'Byrne said: "Shane collided with a player in a way that you would see thousands of times in football matches. It was a freak injury that, in another 100 years of medicine, we may never see again. "Shane sustained a laceration to his liver and was rushed to the Mater hospital for emergency surgery. Gerry McEntee and the intensive care staff in the Mater must be credited for their expertise and fast response which, in no uncertain terms, saved Shane's life." He said the young player was stabilised in intensive care after the surgery which stopped internal bleeding. He was afterwards conscious and in the care of the Mater's high dependency unit. His blood pressure dropped to dangerously low levels during the operation but was controlled and he is expected to make a full recovery. The player had been scheduled to remain with Giovanni Trapattoni's senior squad, solely for training purposes, ahead of next week's friendly clashes against Paraguay and Algeria. Trapattoni, who made an early exit from the game between St Patrick's Athletic and Bohemians at Richmond Park after hearing of Duffy's accident, offered his thanks to Mr McEntee and his specialised crash team at the Mater as well as the national side's medical staff. "I would like to thank Dr Alan Byrne and Prof John O'Byrne for their quick reaction to Shane's serious injury," said the Irish manager. "As time was critical, had they not acted as they did, Shane's life could have been in more danger than it already was. On behalf of the FAI, I would also like to praise Mr Gerry McEntee for conducting the emergency operation and ensuring that Shane was given the best possible attention."