Laois footballers have suffered a serious blow with the confirmation that Brian McDonald has broken his ankle. The player was injured in last weekend's league match with Carlow. A plate was inserted in his ankle on Monday night and it is expected that he won't be able to train again until June.

His loss is a problem for senior manager Tom Cribbin but a disaster for the county under-21s, for whom he almost certainly won't be to play at all this season. McDonald himself is said to be devastated by the enforced lay-off.