Carlow manager Liam Hayes has received a double blow in the build up to the opening of the national football league campaign.
While ace forward Mark Carpenter was poised to win his fitness battle, having undergone a cartilage operation on Tuesday last, he has now decided to take a five-week break in Australia.
Carpenter along with clubmate and inter-county colleague, Barry English, will leave on Monday next, and will miss out on the opening league outing away to Clare.
The duo will return on the Wednesday prior to their home outing with Donegal but it's unlikely that they will be considered for such a tough assignment given their five-week absence from training.
