GAELIC Life understands that the three Johnston brothers are likely to be missing for the start of Down’s National League campaign.

All three featured in the Mourne county’s Ulster semi-final loss to Cavan last season, but will not feature in Castlebar for the side’s Division One North opener against Mayo on May 15.

Jerome was superb for Paddy Tally last year, but a hamstring injury looks set to rule him out for a number of weeks. The youngest of the three, Sheelan, is focussing on the county’s u-20s at the moment while Ryan is not currently involved with the panel.

There are a number of other changes from last year’s panel. As revealed by Gaelic Life in January, Burren’s Gerard McGovern and Saval’s Pat Havern are back in the panel.