Down's Sands pulls out of NHL campaign

Veteran Down hurling star Noel Sands has cast doubts over the rest of his career by pulling out of this year's NHL campaign.

It is not yet clear if Sands will be back for the championship though with a spate of retirements boss Jimmy O'Reilly will be praying he does return.

Down play Dublin this Sunday in the Walsh Cup at Portmarnock on the 'undercard' to the O'Byrne Cup football clash between Dublin and Kildare.