Broken fingers have done for Aaron Hoey and Declan Byrne’s hopes of playing in the O’Byrne Cup.
The Louth pair will miss the season-opening Leinster competition, with manager Peter Fitzpatrick now just hoping that they can be fit in time to play in the side’s Allianz Football League Division Two opener against Westmeath on the first weekend in February.
"Aaron and Declan both broke their fingers, and their fingers are in a cast at the moment," Fitzpatrick said in the Irish Daily Star.
"Neither of them have any chance of being available for the O'Byrne Cup."
Louth take on minnows Kilkenny in their O'Byrne Cup opener on January 8.