Carlow dealt a blow as Walsh forced to stay in US

The Carlow footballers will be without midfielder Thomas Walsh for the foreseeable future as the former Wicklow player is spending the year in Boston.

Carlow manager Luke Dempsey is believed to be planning without him for the rest of the year.

International Rules star Brendan Murphy will be available for Sunday's glamour O'Byrne Cup opener against All-Ireland champions Dublin in Dr Cullen Park, while Derek Hayden and Paul Reid are also back in the fold after missing last year's campaign.