Longford football has suffered a major blow with midfielder Bernard McElvaney set to skip the entire 2008 season.
The 20-year-old has declared himself unavailable for all of next year's championship and league campaigns, planning instead to spend the year traveling.
McElvaney has played with the Longford senior team for three seasons, and is a vital member of the county's U-21 team.
'We knew he was going and he's now what a lot of young people do nowadays,' Longford County Board chairman Martin Skelly told the Sun.
'We'll miss Bernard, he's a great young talent. But at the same time, we wish him well and hope he enjoys his time.
'But quality players like Bernard don't grow on trees and, as things stand, we'll be without him for 2008 unless he decides to cut his travels short,' Skelly added.
