Michael O'Connor 'might have to look' at emergency option amid Glenavon goalkeeper crisis

Former Manchester United shot-stopper Carney was Glenavon’s star performer at the start of this season but has been out of action since September with a hand injury.

The 24-year-old, who had successful surgery to correct the issue, was initially expected to return in mid-December before a setback in recovery with the Lurgan Blues saying earlier this week he “expects to resume his playing career in the New Year”.

However, Glenavon have now been plunged into a goalkeeper crisis with Byrne set for a period on the sidelines after colliding with Cliftonville striker Eric McWoods while the American put the Reds ahead in the third minute at Solitude.

After a lengthy period of treatment on the pitch, Byrne was replaced by Sean Hamill, who only turned 17 on Wednesday and came on to make his Premiership debut.

O’Connor has already been hit with injuries to key players, including Peter Campbell, and lost three strikers in recent weeks for varying reasons.

He will now have to solve another selection headache ahead of next weekend’s clash against reigning champions Linfield before travelling to rivals Portadown on Boxing Day.

"He's in hospital now,” said O’Connor on Byrne. “The physio thinks it might be a broken jaw, so we'll be without a keeper for a while.

"Sean’s a young lad, this is where we are at the minute. Jacob's not far away, but Sean is brilliant.

"He's a young lad, he's learning his trade, his attitude's bang on and he's actually done alright today.

“Apart from that save where he should have got front post (for Cliftonville’s second), and he knows that himself, I thought his kicking, handling and his starting position to come out was really good.”

When asked if Glenavon could have Carney available given the situation, O’Connor added: “I don't know...we might have to look at it.

"I would say he was a couple of weeks away from coming back, so we'll see how he is. We might have to push it.”

Glenavon’s defensive woes continued in north Belfast – they’ve now conceded 29 goals in 11 away matches this term and remain without a point on the road.

Errors once again cost them dearly with McWoods’ opener, which came directly from a long ball over the top, added to by strikes from Joe Sheridan, Jonny Addis and Jack Keaney’s late brace.

"It's schoolboy defending,” added O’Connor. “I think most of the goals we concede are preventable. I don't know what else I can say.

"You learn the basics of defending when you're 12, 13, your body shape, when to drop, when to go in – we're just not doing it at the minute.

"We're conceding soft, soft goals. Then the other side, we've got no centre-forwards. Playing against 10 men in the second half, we didn't look like hurting them.

"It’s a frustrating afternoon. When they went down to 10 men, I thought ‘we'll have a chance here’, 3-2 down, we'll have a go at them. But we didn't lay a finger on them.

"We've shown it to them this week...McWoods will run behind all the time. For the second goal, (Keevan) Hawthorne comes inside and there's no-one trying to tackle him...it's too easy. Then Jonny Addis runs 35 yards and no contact on him. Too easy.

"The fourth one's from a corner. We've warned them this week that at corners they can do something off the cuff.”