Carlow’s Murphy buoyant after recovery

Carlow midfielder Brendan Murphy has played down the speed of his recovery from a lacerated kidney.

The Rathvilly man made a remarkable return to county colours as a substitute in Sunday’s O’Byrne Cup defeat to Dublin despite picking up the severe injury in a game playing for the Army at the end of October.

Murphy, a 2011 International Rules and former Sydney Swans player, had been expected to be back training next month, or as late as March. However, he confounded medical expertise and lined out for his county weeks ahead of schedule.