Jamie Clarke missing for Crossmaglen campaign

Crossmaglen will be without Armagh forward Jamie Clarke for the defence of their county and Ulster titles.

Clarke is travelling to New York this week and he has informed the club that he expects to stay in the United States until Christmas.

Cross defenders James Morgan and Paul Kernan are expected to be sidelined for an extended period.

Morgan dislocated a hip in a car accident while full-back Kernan has a shoulder injury.

The absence of Clarke is a major blow for the Ulster champions, especially after the retirement of star forward Oisin McConville in February.

Cross missed out on a hat-trick of All-Ireland titles this year when they lost to St Brigid's in the semi-finals.

Clarke scored two goals for Armagh in a superb individual display against Wicklow in the qualifiers last month.

However, the Orchard team were knocked out of the championship after a qualifier defeat by Galway on 20 July.