The gap left by the departure of goalkeeper Gerry Matier at the end of the 1943-44 season was not adequately filled until the arrival of Freddie Kiernan from Shelbourne in the summer of 1945.
Drums origins
His early football was played with Drumcondra Juniors in the Leinster League, before his move to Shelbourne. With the Reds Freddie had come close to a Grand Slam in the 1943-44 year, taking the League and Shield and losing out to Shamrock Rovers in the FAI Cup Final. In 1944-45 he had added another Shield Winners medal to his collection.
Agile
Only 5ft. 8 inches tall and 10 stone weight, he was solid and dependable, making up for his lack of height with cat-like agility. A serious injury in a Leinster Cup tie against Transport at the end of October 1945 knocked him out for a couple of months. After a number of false starts ex-Belfast Celtic Kevin McAlinden arrived to take his place for the rest of the year. When Freddie recovered, McAlinden's good
form kept Freddie on the Reserve team but in consolation he won a Metropolitan Cup medal at the end of the season when Dundalk Reserves defeated Bohemians Reserves to take the cup for the first and only time. This was Fred's only winner's medal in his three club seasons: he had three of the runner-up variety in the Shield (1946-47), League and City Cup (both 1947-48). He was an ever-present for his remaining two seasons with the club and there were frequent calls from the local press for the League selectors to recognise his talents and honour him with LOI
selection. Ironically, Kevin McAlinden, his replacement during his period of injury, was selected with the League of Ireland in April 1946 against the Northern Ireland Regional League.
Fred finally got his League cap in March 1948 against the Irish League.On several occasions he was substitute for the International team, for which the Democrat noted 'he would receive a £20 fee.'
Sligo transfer
The club failed to agree suitable terms with him for the 1948-49 year and Alex Anderson was his last minute replacement for the 'Scottish' teams FAI Cup success - Fred ended up with Sligo Rovers. Released at the end of the season, he signed with Leinster Leaguers Grangegorman, where he was spotted by Shamrock Rovers coach Paddy Coad. Rovers were going through an unusually poor spell, but Fred's qualities were again recognised by the League of Ireland selectors when he give an outstanding performance against a powerful English League XI, who were held to a 1-0 win at Dalymount Park in April 1951.
Southampton switch
In May 1951 he made his international debut (v. Argentina) and before May was out he had added a second cap (v. Norway). Later that year, and at the age of 32, he exchanged the security of the Revenue Commissioners for the uncertainties of a full time professional footballer when he joined Southampton for a then record League of Ireland fee for a ‘keeper of £4,500. By October 1951 he had made
his debut in the English League Second Division. Over the next five seasons he made 136 League and Cup appearances with the Saints and added another three Irish caps to his collection. He was almost 37 years of age when he played his last Southampton game in April 1956 and the following July he moved to non-League Yeovil Town. When Tommy Traynor's
FAI Cup performances in 1952 saw him being headhunted by Chelsea, Manchester City and Southampton, it was Freddie's persuasive skills that convinced Tommy to head for the Dell.
