Louth will be missing as many as twelve first-team players when they face Meath on Sunday.

The prospect of a competitive north-east derby at Navan has been greatly diminished by the Wee County's lengthy list of absentees, which includes Paddy Keenan, Shane Lennon, Mark Brennan, Darren Clarke, Aaron Hoey, Declan Byrne, Sean Connor and Dessie Finnegan.

Manager Peter Fitzpatrick confirmed that he'll use the second-round O'Byrne Cup match to give youth a fling, adding that the NFL opener against Westmeath is of much more importance:

"I have to be honest and say that the Westmeath game is only three weeks away and I'm worried about getting these lads back and fit in time.

"That's a massive game - a four-pointer - and we won't risk anyone in the O'Byrne Cup who's not 100%.

"At last count, we'll be missing twelve of last year's championship panel but it does give the younger lads a chance to come in and show what they can do. We've no other option really." Tweet

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