Speculation about Thomas Walsh from Carlow transferring to Wicklow looks to have come to nothing. Walsh, one of the most impressive centrefielders over the past year, was said to be planning a move from his club, Fenagh, to Bray Emmets and to the Wicklow county side but is believed to have decided to reaffirm his commitment to home club and county.
The player hasn't made himself available for Carlow in the National Football League this season because of rugby commitments with Bective Rangers in Dublin where he works, but on the basis the rumoured transfer is not going ahead there is optimism in the county he will be back on the senior panel for the next Division Two A fixture, away to table toppers Monaghan, the weekend after next.
A spokesperson in the Leinster Council said yesterday no request for a transfer had been received in the provincial offices whereas the Carlow County Board office was also unaware of any request having been made.
One source in Carlow said although the transfer had been expected there had been no ill will. "There wouldn't have been bad feeling even though the rumour was that he was on his way. There would have been disappointment he was going but we were resigned to the fact that he wanted to go."
Should Walsh return to the county colours he would be a welcome addition given Carlow have lost their opening two fixtures, to Clare and Offaly.
Wicklow, under the guidance of the legendary Mick O'Dwyer, have started the season well although last weekend's trip to Cavan ended in defeat.
Meanwhile, still in Carlow, the local IT has officially launched the 2007 Fitzgibbon Cup, which it will host for the first time. The GAA president Nickey Brennan, speaking at the launch, said there was "a mystique associated with the Fitzgibbon Cup competition as in few others" and that it was also "important . . . as it was the nursery from which many of the association's administrators came".
Also in attendance were Cork's All-Ireland winning 2005 captain Seán Ó hAilpín and Wexford's Eoin Quigley, both employees of the Ulster bank who sponsor the Fitzgibbon.
The competition takes place on the weekend of March 9th-10th.
On the previous evening a seminar called "Hurling - a Vision for the Future" will be held in the college. Chaired by Micheál Ó Muircheartaigh, it will feature contributions from renowned former Kilkenny hurler DJ Carey, Leinster chair Liam O'Neill, GAA president Nickey Brennan, Croke Park's director of hurling Paudie Butler, Carlow coach Eoin Garvey and the GAA's player welfare manager Páraic Duffy.
