PETER Fitzpatrick will be keeping his fingers crossed today ( Wednesday) that three of his Louth young guns come through a tough Sigerson Cup clash for DkIT in Galway. Declan Byrne, Derek Maguire, and Andy McDonnell have all been given the week off from training to concentrate on the college clash against GMIT today and their manager will be hoping they come through unscathed.

The Reds open their NFL Division 3 campaign at home to Wexford on Sunday and all four players have featured heavily in the team's run to a second successive O'Byrne Cup final.

Byrne and McDonnell have been ever-presents at corner-back and centre-forward respectively, while Maguire and Smith have shared plenty of game time between them on the left wing.

McDonnell and Byrne were particularly impressive as Fitzer's men overcame Kildare in Sunday's semi-final in Newbridge. The former scored two points and was arguably the Man-ofthe-Match before retiring with a dead leg, while Byrne notched a point and an all-important, if fortuitous goal.

Despite the injury he sustained against the Lilywhites, McDonnell is expected to feature for DkIT today and should also be available for Sunday's clash in Drogheda (throw-in 2.30pm).

'The college game is a worry,' Fitzpatrick admitted yesterday. 'I told them I don't want to see them for the week; if they win we won't have them back until Saturday, but if they lose they will all be back with us for training on Thursday night.'

However, with Shane Lennon and Mark Brennan both featuring last Sunday, the manager would have options should any of his young guns not make it through the college tie.

Stuart Reynolds and Gerard Hoey apart (both knee), Fitzpatrick and his selectors have reported a clean bill of health for the visit of the Model County, although he's not certain whether third-choice goalkeeper Craig Lynch will be available after picking up an injury in an U-21 challenge.

'We're close to full strength. We have Mark and Shane back in there now and both of them did well when they went in on Sunday. Kevin Brennan dug us out of a hole on Saturday night when we heard Craig was injured, so fair play to him for that. Stuart will be out for three months and Gerard Hoey is hoping for good news when he gets the results of a scan on his knee next week.'

Despite struggling in both the league and championship last season, Fitzpatrick expects Wexford to pose a significant threat on Sunday.

'They beat Westmeath by six points on Sunday and they always have a very nippy forward line. Brosnan scored 1-6 for them on the forty, but Aaron [Hoey] had a great game on Sunday. I feel he should have been centre-half for years because there's no better reader of the game and he's tough in the 50/50 challenges; John O'Brien and Ray Finnegan have the pace to give him great cover too.'

The manager was delighted with Sunday's performance, but he had a word of warning for his players and supporters.

'We have a tough start because both Wexford and Sligo will fancy their chances of promotion. Wexford came down last year and will be looking to bounce straight back up and Sligo are on a great run and only lost to Kerry by a point in the Qualifiers last year.

'We will set our stall out to win promotion and I think 10 points might do it, but to do that I think we'll need to win our first two.'

Motivation won't be a factor, however, as Fitzpatrick already has that base covered.

'The Irish Independent did a piece last week saying Louth and Offaly are favourites to be relegated from Division 3. I have that cut out for the lads.'

- John SAVAGE