louth GAA have been dealt a huge blow with the news that forward Ciarán Byrne is to miss the rest of the season after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
This is the second time that the former AFL star has suffered a serious knee injury, the first of which occurred in 2016 when the St Mochta's club man was plying his trade down under for Carlton.
Byrne went down injured in last week's defeat to Clare in the Allianz League opener and scans have since confirmed what was feared most when he was stretchered off the pitch in Ennis last Sunday.
