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A shadow has been cast over Carlow's summer after manager Turlough O'Brien, player Brendan Murphy and coach Steven Poacher have been slapped with lengthly bans.

The GAA's Central Hearings Committee have dished out the bans for 'threatening conduct towards a referee' in Carlow's Division 3 tie with Down last month - in which the trio confronted referee James Bermingham after the game.

O'Brien will serve 20 weeks, meaning he'll miss their entire campaign. Coach Poacher and midfielder Murphy only have to serve 12 weeks - meaning they still could potentially return if the county enjoys another successful summer.

But after relegation to Division 4 this spring, things aren't looking well for the county as they prepare to face either Meath or Offaly in a Leinster quarter-final.

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