Walsh Presses on with Transfer to Wicklow

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Walsh Presses on with Transfer to Wicklow

Saturday, March 24 2007

Bray Emmets and Thomas Walsh are determined to press ahead with the player's transfer from Carlow to Wicklow - despite the ongoing controversy that has erupted between the counties.

Wicklow manager Mick O'Dwyer had been hoping the midfielder's move would be ratified ahead of Sunday's home clash against Meath, but a technicality arose with the transfer documentation which has forced the Leinster Council to defer a decision.

"The club (Bray Emmets) and Thomas are as keen as ever for the transfer to go through, and we haven't been put off by what has happened so far," stressed Bray chairman Michael O'Byrne. "We intend to re-submit the request as soon as possible."

The latest setback to the Walsh transfer occurred on Wednesday when the four-strong Carlow delegation - headed by board chairman Peter Deering and secretary Tommy O'Neill - pointed out to the Leinster Council that the papers from the Wicklow board had come through the full-time county administrator Michael Murphy, rather than county secretary Tom Byrne.

This, the Carlow delegation maintained, was in breach of Rule 98 of the Official Guide which states that all correspondence with provincial councils must be conducted by the county secretary.

Three weeks ago, Walsh had inadvertently written on his transfer form the door number of the apartment next to his own in Greystones, and this caused the initial delay. Now, this latest discrepancy means that Walsh's case might not be heard again for up to four weeks.

And with the divisional rounds of the NFL set to conclude on April 8, that means that Walsh's debut for Wicklow may have to be delayed until the Leinster SFC opener against Louth on May 20.

Correct procedure

Along with the chairman, and secretary of the Bray Emmets club, Frances Stevenson, and the chairman and administrator of the Wicklow Board, Andy O'Brien and Michael Murphy, Walsh was present at Wednesday's meeting but wasn't asked to speak.

After the Carlow delegation had pointed out that the correct procedure was not adhered to, the five-strong Leinster Council executive adjourned for approximately 10 minutes to consider the matter before informing both sides of their decision to turn down the transfer. Along with chairman Liam O'Neill, the other Leinster officers present were secretary Michael Delaney, vice-chairman Seamus Howlin (Wexford), treasurer John McCarthy (Kildare) and PRO Tom Farrell (Westmeath).

Yesterday, Michael Murphy said that he was baffled with the Council's stance. "I was appointed full-time administrative officer of the Wicklow County Board almost four years ago, and in that time I've carried out all the functions of a county secretary," he explained.

"In fact, when I was appointed, I was given the go-ahead by the Central Council to sign all the relevant documents and to deal with all the regular issues such as transfer requests."

"With regard to the transfer requests, many would have involved moves to, and from, clubs in other counties, and this, of course, necessitated dealing with the Leinster Council. And up to now, there were never any problems in this regard.

"I pointed out to the Leinster Council that in Carlow's letter there was no mention of any query about which Wicklow official signed the form. And I also stated that they should not be allowed to raise that issue at this stage because it was outside the 10-day limit.

"As far as I'm concerned, this is merely splitting hairs, and I wonder would the same criteria be applied to full-time officers in other counties."

Other full-time officers are John Costello in Dublin and Cork's Frank Murphy, while all nine Ulster counties now have full-time administrators, aided by funding from the Northern Ireland Sports Council.

Interviewed

Incidentally, a grant of €60,000 was provided by the Central Council towards the cost of funding the full-time post in Wicklow.

And current GAA president Nickey Brennan was a member of the committee which interviewed Murphy for the post when he was chairman of the Leinster Council.

Wicklow PRO Jackie Napier fully backed up Murphy's assertions regarding his administrative duties. "Michael's title may be county administrator, but in reality he's the county secretary," said Napier.

Murphy, himself, said he harboured considerable sympathy for Walsh.

"I feel very sorry for the lad. He went along to the meeting with proof of his residence, and then he got hit with something that has got absolutely nothing to do with him."

But Carlow chairman Deering has defended their stance: "I have no doubt that if Mick O'Dwyer wasn't in Wicklow, or if Seán Mulryan, wasn't involved in Wicklow, Thomas Walsh would be playing in Carlow today."

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