Down will be without ace attacker Jerome Johnston for next year's National Football League campaign.

The Irish News reports that the Kilcoo clubman will be unavailable to Mourne boss Eamonn Burns until the end of March at least as he is set to go travelling for a period.

Johnston's late free earned a priceless draw against Cork to help Down stay safe in Division 2 last April and his good form continued in the championship as the county reached its first Ulster SFC final since 2012, losing out to Tyrone in Clones in July.

Long-serving forward Mark Poland recently announced his retirement after 13 seasons with the Mourne County and there is speculation that fellow veteran Aidan Carr could join him after an injury-plagued season.

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