Veteran Kildare midfielder Dermot Earley will undergo surgery to correct his knee problem in the wake of his side's heart-breaking All-Ireland semi-final defeat to Down last weekend.

Earley had faced a race against time to be fit for the game but despite originally being named in Kieran McGeeney's side, he was omitted from the team following a late fitness test at Croke Park.

The long-serving midfielder, now 32, faces a lay-off after going under the knife and it remains to be seen whether he will return to the fold for another campaign.

Fellow veteran Anthony Rainbow, an unused substitute against Down, announced his retirement from the game earlier this week. Tweet

Most Read Stories