Firm's Ownership of Walsh Address Will Not Hinder Transfer

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Firm's Ownership of Walsh Address Will Not Hinder Transfer

Tuesday, March 13 2007

Thomas Walsh's contentious move from Wicklow to Carlow will press ahead despite fresh question marks about the address detailed on his transfer form.

Claims that the address of a Greystones apartment used by Walsh on his transfer form is actually owned by the company sponsoring the Wicklow team, Ballymore Properties, won't hinder the proposed move when it comes before the relevant authorities at next week's Leinster Council meeting.

But it has again placed a sharp spotlight on the talented 24-year-old midfielder's controversial move to a neighbouring county.

Walsh is adamant that the address in Greystones is now his permanent residence and challenged doubters over the weekend to visit him there on any night of the week.

He has insisted everything is above board and stressed that the issue isn't about whether he owned the apartment, but whether he was living there.

Carlow chairman Peter Deering said yesterday that his County Board would again be asking the Leinster Council to check all the details about what he feels is an "unusual transfer" that "must make people wonder".

Under the GAA rules, a player seeking an inter-county transfer must satisfy the relevant body - in this case the Leinster Council - that his or her primary place of residence is in the county where he or she is transferring to.

By providing evidence of dwelling ownership or a lease agreement, most transfers will be sanctioned.

"As I say, it should make people wonder," said Deering. "Thomas Walsh works in Leeson Street and has been living in south Dublin. Now he says he has moved out to Greystones to lease a residence."

Objection

Walsh has already resubmitted his initial transfer request because the number of the apartment he quoted on his transfer form was different to the one he has the lease for.

Wicklow are understood to be frustrated that the Leinster Council have been in no hurry to process the transfer.

Walsh was selected for Wicklow's weekend league game against Waterford but was withdrawn as Carlow prepared to raise an objection.

The Leinster Council are not prepared to make an exceptional case out of Walsh's transfer and see it as "routine business", according to chairman Liam O'Neill.

The provincial body will hear submissions on the request at its monthly meeting on Wednesday of next week, but O'Neill has made it clear that once Walsh proves his place of residence is in Wicklow there is nothing they can do to prevent it.

"The normal rules governing transfers apply here. He must provide residency details that meet our satisfaction," said O'Neill.

Inter-county transfers have been known to be blocked by provincial councils, however, and there is the outstanding case of a young Kildare player from the south of the county who is anxious to move to St Joseph's in Laois. But on two occasions his requests have been turned down because the details furnished were not satisfactory.

Deering, who had suggested that Mick O'Dwyer's fingerprints were all over the process in the first place - a suggestion firmly rebuffed by the Wicklow manager who said he had never even met the Carlow man at the time - has admitted that the transfer saga has hit hard in Carlow where Walsh played his club football in Fenagh.

"We're limited to what we can do. The matter will be raised at next week's Leinster Council and we'll be raising our concerns there. But in county like Carlow this has left a sour taste," said Deering.

Wicklow have maintained silence on the transfer, but Walsh is satisfied that everything is above board.

Living

"I'm living in Greystones now and anyone that doesn't believe it can come and see me there any night of the week," he was quoted as saying over the weekend.

Walsh has arguably been Carlow's best player over the last few years and had initially denied that he was transferring to Wicklow.

Wicklow's profile has soared on the back of O'Dwyer's appointment and the procurement of Ballymore Properties as chief sponsors. The company is one of the biggest developers in the country.

The effect of Walsh's proposed move has taken its toll on Carlow's performances as they remain rooted to the bottom of Div 2A without a win from four games.

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