Maxwell out of Leitrim's opener

Leitrim sharpshooter Declan Maxwell has been ruled out of the county's Connacht SFC semi-final next month.

The winners of this weekend's preliminary round tie between New York and Mayo will face Leitrim in the last four on June 25, but Maxwell is already a certain absentee for Dessie Dolan Senior's side.

The 25-year-old full-forward suffered medial knee ligament damage whilst playing for his club Drumreilly last weekend and is looking at a considerable lay-off, the length of which will be determined by a scan.

Dolan already has half-forward Darren Duignan (wrist), half-back Shane Foley (hamstring) and midfielders Ronan Gallagher (hand) and Gary McCloskey (finger) currently nursing injuries.