Veteran Limerick defender Tommy Stack and fellow back-liner Shane Gallagher will not play for the county’s footballers in 2012.
Stack, who returned to the Treaty team after several years away and impressed last season, has told manager Maurice Horan that he does not plan to play for the county side in 2012, while Gallagher – part of the panel since 2006 – has also conceded that he will not be involved.
With dual star Mark O’Riordan committing to hurling next year it leaves Horan short on defensive options, as he looks to follow up on a season when he led the county to the last eight of the All-Ireland senior football championship.
Kerry saw them off – for the second time in the summer - after qualifier wins over Offaly, Waterford and Wexford had brought back some confidence on the back of a Munster championship hiding from the Kingdom.
Horan’s spread of players for the New Year is further depleted by the emigration of trio Thomas Lee, Eoin Hogan and Michael Sheehan.