Carlow stalls Walsh's Wicklow debut

Wicklow actually named Walsh among their substitutes last night before they learned that his transfer will not go through until next Tuesday night at the earliest. This is because the Carlow Executive have asked Leinster Council to confirm Walsh's permanent address before granting him a club transfer from his native Fenagh to Bray Emmets.

While not technically 'blocking' his transfer, this request that "Leinster Council makes itself fully satisfied that Rule 39 TO 2007 (ie permanent residence) is fully complied with", necessitates a meeting of Leinster's Central Controls Committee (CCC).

The earliest this can be convened is next Tuesday, which means Walsh cannot be cleared in time to play against Wexford in tomorrow's big Division 2B NFL derby in Aughrim.

The player, the chairman/secretaries of both of the counties and clubs involved have all been called to Tuesday's CCC meeting.

Wicklow could certainly do with him this weekend as they are without hamstrung full-forward Paul Earls, Rathnew's Stephen Byrne and Blessington's Jonathon Daniels, forcing Mick O'Dwyer to draft in Mick McLoughlin and Rory Finn from the county U21s.

The latest twist in the Walsh saga comes after Carlow football manager Andy Shorthall has tried to diffuse the row.

"It's nothing new for a player to transfer, and to make a villain out of someone for doing so is not fair either," he said.

"It's an amateur sport and while I accept that there is a community element to it in the GAA, people have to do what they think is best for themselves," Shorthall added.

Walsh's move has noticeably sparked much more controversy than that of former Fermanagh player Rory Gallagher who left his Dublin club St Brigid's this season to join a Cavan club. He immediately slotted into the Cavan senior team at full-forward without any public objections.