Carlow chairman Pat Deering says there is still anger in the county over Thomas Walsh's decision to stay with Wicklow for another season. Deering claims his board went "above and beyond the call of duty" in trying to lure the talented midfielder back to his native county earlier this year. After transferring to Wicklow in 2007, speculation was rife that the Fenagh man would return to the Carlow colours this year, but having spent the winter playing rugby with Tullow, he returned to Mick O'Dwyer's Wicklow squad last month. Speaking ahead of today's Leinster SFC opener against Louth at Parnell Park, a dismayed Deering said: "We went above and beyond the call of duty to get Thomas back. "We did all we could and were very disappointed that he didn't come back. I felt we were very close to seeing him in a Carlow shirt again. For a long time, that seemed likely. Then at the last minute, it didn't happen. "It was a huge blow to us. Players like Thomas Walsh don't grow on trees in Carlow. In fact, they're scarce all over the country. With his talent, he would have been a huge boost to the team. But I wouldn't listen to anyone who claimed we didn't do all we could to get the chap back. We did all we could. And more." Carlow manager Luke Demspey has already said that he felt "personally let down" by Walsh's decision to stay with the Garden County. Tweet

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