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Replying To Repeat1944: "Very sad to see.
I know they've struggled with underage in recent years but they've lots of players who are now playing adult football with EO, Tinryland & Graiguecullen, and with 'ok' management should be good enough to be a good intermediate team.
They weren't an old senior team 5 years ago.
The championship format isnt helping them to their retain 'registered players' either. Leaving the Summer months free of Gaelic and then running the championship off in a 7 week period is a recipe for disaster. Most of their players are playing soccer now, instead of football which they previously did.
A condensed championship doesn't give these players enough time to 'buy into it' and opt for GAA ahead of soccer for the first few weeks of the season.
If we dont play games in the summer months, you can't blame players for opting for rugby/soccer where they have games scheduled for 6/8 months, and not for 4/7 weeks.
The split season came in for the benefit of hurling in the county. In my eyes the soccer & rugby clubs are the biggest beneficiary's from it so far and this will only get worse with the introduction of summer soccer. I'd say the soccer clubs around the county are laughing at Carlow GAA." 100%.the split season is a disaster for football. It's turned gaelic football into an afterthought. It's over quicker than some club tournaments. Someone needs to shout stop and quickly at that.One young Tullow player told me recently that he had no competitive fane between April and September. That's not sustainable and we're going to see more "blues" type scenarios unless co. Board wake up and smell the coffee.
Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 398 - 10/10/2025 16:05:31
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Replying To Repeat1944: "Very sad to see.
I know they've struggled with underage in recent years but they've lots of players who are now playing adult football with EO, Tinryland & Graiguecullen, and with 'ok' management should be good enough to be a good intermediate team.
They weren't an old senior team 5 years ago.
The championship format isnt helping them to their retain 'registered players' either. Leaving the Summer months free of Gaelic and then running the championship off in a 7 week period is a recipe for disaster. Most of their players are playing soccer now, instead of football which they previously did.
A condensed championship doesn't give these players enough time to 'buy into it' and opt for GAA ahead of soccer for the first few weeks of the season.
If we dont play games in the summer months, you can't blame players for opting for rugby/soccer where they have games scheduled for 6/8 months, and not for 4/7 weeks.
The split season came in for the benefit of hurling in the county. In my eyes the soccer & rugby clubs are the biggest beneficiary's from it so far and this will only get worse with the introduction of summer soccer. I'd say the soccer clubs around the county are laughing at Carlow GAA." Couldn't agree more. Co. Board murdering football before our eyes. How can any one stand over it?
How would players want to play football in Carlow? Play a micky mouse league that ends in early June and then have to wait 13 weeks to play championship football? Like it's absolutely ludicrous lads. Talk to anyone from north east and they will tell you that tullow rugby club are the biggest beneficiaries of this in that area. 8 month season. On their off season there is no football of any consequence. No football in the height of the summer is absolutely laughable.
If Grange and or Bagnelstown win they will have played 7 games in 7 weeks. No room for a break week or anything. Simply disgraceful in my opinion and someone needs to held accountable.
Separate note while addressing the Co. Board. U 20 championship will start shortly in slop weather and when most of the players are back in college. Like what is going on in there! I
sportsmadcarlow (Carlow) - Posts: 27 - 10/10/2025 17:03:39
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Replying To CARPS: "The decline of O'Hanrahan's is truly shocking. They are one of only 27 clubs to have won the Leinster senior championship. And they have 18 Carlow senior titles. The first in 1890, when they were called simply 'Carlow.'
To lose such history would be appalling. And the club appears to be on a downward spiral and could hurtle out of existence. Not to mention they have a fine set up not far from the centre of Carlow town.
I think the county board needs to step in here, urgently, and come up with some sort of rescue plan for O'Hanrahan's.
Something catastrophic has clearly happened. They were senior 5 years ago!" Sport is very honest. Leagues and championships don't lie. I'm not sure what the county board could do to help. You need to have the players. You need to have a committee backing it up and you need a plan. It's definitely a very low period, depressing really. We live in hope though that something might change, as you say it has such history. Maybe it just needs to bottom out and start from scratch. Maybe a few years in junior B will give it some time to regenerate. One thing is certain at that level the only people involved will be those who actually want to be there and that's possibly a good start. If that's your level you will get some wins and start to build again.
Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1729 - 10/10/2025 19:48:48
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8:15 throw in on a Friday evening is a mental time isn't it? Not going to finish until after 10 tonight and could go to pens. The lads aren't pros so doing this when lads have been working all week, is mental.
CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 29 - 10/10/2025 21:54:33
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Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "8:15 throw in on a Friday evening is a mental time isn't it? Not going to finish until after 10 tonight and could go to pens. The lads aren't pros so doing this when lads have been working all week, is mental." Lots of games in this years championships actually started as late as 8.30pm. That's ok I think in mid summer when hurling championship games were double headers 7pm and 8.30 with the latter games throwing in when it was still twilight at least. The floodlights are great and give flexibility but when a match is starting in complete darkness I think that's a bit late I agree.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 11/10/2025 15:29:26
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Replying To carlo: "They were actually a Senior team only 4 years ago. They lost to Ballinabranna in the relegation final in 2021. For a club with that history to have their first team playing Junior B football is a disgrace. I don't know what's going on there. They are light years behind Eire Og & are 3rd in the town behind Asca now. There are good passionate people involved with the Blues & this must be killing them. I have heard of some of their best young players over the last few years joining rival clubs which doesn't help. I suppose now with Pal being almost a town team & picking from parts of Carlow town thats another hugh problem.
Sad to see their demise & hope they can sort themselves out" You can add Graiguecullen to that list of town clubs that are impacting on the Blues. It's not the other clubs fault I suppose that the Blues are now so weak they cannot keep their best talent at underage or adult level. But it's an absolute disgrace that Graiguecullen can call themselves a Leix club and provide players to Leix county teams and yet continue to in their eyes have the right to pick these players from all over the town, not to mention further into the county as has happened.
That's far from being the only factor in the demise of the Blues and in fairness it's hard to say that players with ambition to be the best they can be should be prevented from leaving the Blues (to join clubs that compete in Carlow) when they are clearly in a bad state across the board. Their junior team now relegated were so unfit and badly prepared this year it was shocking. They were like a team playing in the Carlow pub soccer league. The split season has definitely hit them harder than most clubs. Ultimately only the Blues themselves can fix this though and as said maybe they need to hit the bottom before they can rise again. Personally I think a merger with Asca and possibly Setanta to create a dual club is needed and should be encouraged by the county board (dunno what else they can do) to build a vibrancy and get some pride back into the club. What Asca and Setanta would think of that I dunno but as said the Blues have a history worth fighting for.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 11/10/2025 15:50:20
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Replying To Onion Breath: "You can add Graiguecullen to that list of town clubs that are impacting on the Blues. It's not the other clubs fault I suppose that the Blues are now so weak they cannot keep their best talent at underage or adult level. But it's an absolute disgrace that Graiguecullen can call themselves a Leix club and provide players to Leix county teams and yet continue to in their eyes have the right to pick these players from all over the town, not to mention further into the county as has happened.
That's far from being the only factor in the demise of the Blues and in fairness it's hard to say that players with ambition to be the best they can be should be prevented from leaving the Blues (to join clubs that compete in Carlow) when they are clearly in a bad state across the board. Their junior team now relegated were so unfit and badly prepared this year it was shocking. They were like a team playing in the Carlow pub soccer league. The split season has definitely hit them harder than most clubs. Ultimately only the Blues themselves can fix this though and as said maybe they need to hit the bottom before they can rise again. Personally I think a merger with Asca and possibly Setanta to create a dual club is needed and should be encouraged by the county board (dunno what else they can do) to build a vibrancy and get some pride back into the club. What Asca and Setanta would think of that I dunno but as said the Blues have a history worth fighting for." The Graiguecullen situation is the fault of the County Board in the late 1990s. The 'triangle' was a silly fudge, which basically meant Graigue could pick from all over Carlow town, without being beholden to the normal transfer rules.
What Carlow should (belatedly) do is enforce rigidly the county border with Laois. Graiguecullen should not be allowed to choose players from County Carlow. That includes most of Graigue itself.
Tough on them. But not our problem.
I don't understand why the County Board won't do it.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 932 - 11/10/2025 17:24:19
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Replying To CARPS: "The Graiguecullen situation is the fault of the County Board in the late 1990s. The 'triangle' was a silly fudge, which basically meant Graigue could pick from all over Carlow town, without being beholden to the normal transfer rules.
What Carlow should (belatedly) do is enforce rigidly the county border with Laois. Graiguecullen should not be allowed to choose players from County Carlow. That includes most of Graigue itself.
Tough on them. But not our problem.
I don't understand why the County Board won't do it." 100% agree with this. It won't sort the Blues problems but the current situation cannot be let continue. Graigecullen need to be brought to book, they can't continue to have it every way. If they insist on staying with Leix then they should be reformed as a genuinely Leix club outside county Carlow but with a new club "Carlow Graigue" being formed having the pick of players from the county Carlow side of the river or else they return to Carlow with their history intact and let a "Leix Graigue" be formed if necessary for those belonging to them who want to live in cloud cuckoo land. The issue needs to be addressed and it's on our county board to raise it again as they did initially in the late 90's but this time no backing down under pressure from Leinster council etc and no fudges.
Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 11/10/2025 18:20:24
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Replying To Onion Breath: "You can add Graiguecullen to that list of town clubs that are impacting on the Blues. It's not the other clubs fault I suppose that the Blues are now so weak they cannot keep their best talent at underage or adult level. But it's an absolute disgrace that Graiguecullen can call themselves a Leix club and provide players to Leix county teams and yet continue to in their eyes have the right to pick these players from all over the town, not to mention further into the county as has happened.
That's far from being the only factor in the demise of the Blues and in fairness it's hard to say that players with ambition to be the best they can be should be prevented from leaving the Blues (to join clubs that compete in Carlow) when they are clearly in a bad state across the board. Their junior team now relegated were so unfit and badly prepared this year it was shocking. They were like a team playing in the Carlow pub soccer league. The split season has definitely hit them harder than most clubs. Ultimately only the Blues themselves can fix this though and as said maybe they need to hit the bottom before they can rise again. Personally I think a merger with Asca and possibly Setanta to create a dual club is needed and should be encouraged by the county board (dunno what else they can do) to build a vibrancy and get some pride back into the club. What Asca and Setanta would think of that I dunno but as said the Blues have a history worth fighting for." Outside of Lee Walker who went to Graigue, who else from the town and further have they poached?
CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 29 - 11/10/2025 19:39:21
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Replying To Barrowsider: "Sport is very honest. Leagues and championships don't lie. I'm not sure what the county board could do to help. You need to have the players. You need to have a committee backing it up and you need a plan. It's definitely a very low period, depressing really. We live in hope though that something might change, as you say it has such history. Maybe it just needs to bottom out and start from scratch. Maybe a few years in junior B will give it some time to regenerate. One thing is certain at that level the only people involved will be those who actually want to be there and that's possibly a good start. If that's your level you will get some wins and start to build again." This is as fair a summary as has been written on here. Look within first...
DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 11/10/2025 22:45:27
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Replying To sportsmadcarlow: "Couldn't agree more. Co. Board murdering football before our eyes. How can any one stand over it?
How would players want to play football in Carlow? Play a micky mouse league that ends in early June and then have to wait 13 weeks to play championship football? Like it's absolutely ludicrous lads. Talk to anyone from north east and they will tell you that tullow rugby club are the biggest beneficiaries of this in that area. 8 month season. On their off season there is no football of any consequence. No football in the height of the summer is absolutely laughable.
If Grange and or Bagnelstown win they will have played 7 games in 7 weeks. No room for a break week or anything. Simply disgraceful in my opinion and someone needs to held accountable.
Separate note while addressing the Co. Board. U 20 championship will start shortly in slop weather and when most of the players are back in college. Like what is going on in there! I" U21s I believe it is now, but you are right. Watching some talented younger chaps over the summer playing Junior A and junior B, including county players, and not getting a look in at Senior, why would they come home every week to train and play in the depths of winter. Half the games will be walk overs as usual anyway.
It will be the non town but actually a town team and Eire Og who will be the only ones competing for that. And word on the street is both teams have already had a few chaps opt out. Not a happy camp in either club after this championship is the word. And as usual it's the younger chaps who suffer these power struggles and ultimately walk away. The usual story in Carlow...
DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 11/10/2025 22:57:23
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Tinryland had Eire Og on the ropes today and didn't have it in them to finish the job. Credit to their fight back in the second half and completely rattled them but let it get away from them in the first half.
CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 29 - 12/10/2025 17:48:13
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Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "Tinryland had Eire Og on the ropes today and didn't have it in them to finish the job. Credit to their fight back in the second half and completely rattled them but let it get away from them in the first half." Over 60 mins Tinryland were value for their defeat, if they cannot bounce straight back they could be intermediate for a while to come
more4me (Carlow) - Posts: 119 - 12/10/2025 19:28:49
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Did anyone hear the interview on Kclr with one of the Eire Og management after the game? Saying the structures of the current championship are all wrong & how they didn't lose to either Old Leighlin or Rathvilly. Going on about how they have always been the main team in Carlow & would be again. The arrogance was unbelievable. Yes they didn't lose to OL or Rathvilly but he failed to mention that they didn't beat MLR either while the other two clubs comfortably beat them. I can see why they were in the relegation final with this attitude. I don't think EO were crying about the structures last year when Clonmore put in 3 brilliant performances & still ended up being relegated. You are where you deserve to be. With the numbers they have EO should never be in a relegation battle but obviously not all is well there. In fairness Tinryland threw everything at them today but just came up short. Would have done nothing for the interimediate championship next year if EO went down but clubs will feel they can take on Tinryland & at least compete
carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 289 - 12/10/2025 19:56:15
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Replying To more4me: "Over 60 mins Tinryland were value for their defeat, if they cannot bounce straight back they could be intermediate for a while to come" Won't disagree but what ever changes they made at half time, keeping eire og scoreless for 21 mins. One or two wayward attacks and that scoreline flatters a very poor eire og side
CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 29 - 12/10/2025 20:12:11
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Replying To carlo: "Did anyone hear the interview on Kclr with one of the Eire Og management after the game? Saying the structures of the current championship are all wrong & how they didn't lose to either Old Leighlin or Rathvilly. Going on about how they have always been the main team in Carlow & would be again. The arrogance was unbelievable. Yes they didn't lose to OL or Rathvilly but he failed to mention that they didn't beat MLR either while the other two clubs comfortably beat them. I can see why they were in the relegation final with this attitude. I don't think EO were crying about the structures last year when Clonmore put in 3 brilliant performances & still ended up being relegated. You are where you deserve to be. With the numbers they have EO should never be in a relegation battle but obviously not all is well there. In fairness Tinryland threw everything at them today but just came up short. Would have done nothing for the interimediate championship next year if EO went down but clubs will feel they can take on Tinryland & at least compete" Well put. I originally thought the interview was defensive but now that you have put it that way, it was pure arrogance. They have a wealth of young chaps at their disposal, a whole team worth actually, and all they have done is mismanage that by sticking with the "lads they've soldiered with" is I think what they said....that went well. From what I have heard on the grapevine they had control over the intermediate team also. Same selectors. And the truth this that the scoreline flattered them today. Fair play to tinryland who could buy have given any more. But changing the championship because Eire Og just about survived ? Arrogance is right.
DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 12/10/2025 21:29:42
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Replying To carlo: "Did anyone hear the interview on Kclr with one of the Eire Og management after the game? Saying the structures of the current championship are all wrong & how they didn't lose to either Old Leighlin or Rathvilly. Going on about how they have always been the main team in Carlow & would be again. The arrogance was unbelievable. Yes they didn't lose to OL or Rathvilly but he failed to mention that they didn't beat MLR either while the other two clubs comfortably beat them. I can see why they were in the relegation final with this attitude. I don't think EO were crying about the structures last year when Clonmore put in 3 brilliant performances & still ended up being relegated. You are where you deserve to be. With the numbers they have EO should never be in a relegation battle but obviously not all is well there. In fairness Tinryland threw everything at them today but just came up short. Would have done nothing for the interimediate championship next year if EO went down but clubs will feel they can take on Tinryland & at least compete" Which of the management said that ?
Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1729 - 12/10/2025 21:39:25
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Replying To carlo: "Did anyone hear the interview on Kclr with one of the Eire Og management after the game? Saying the structures of the current championship are all wrong & how they didn't lose to either Old Leighlin or Rathvilly. Going on about how they have always been the main team in Carlow & would be again. The arrogance was unbelievable. Yes they didn't lose to OL or Rathvilly but he failed to mention that they didn't beat MLR either while the other two clubs comfortably beat them. I can see why they were in the relegation final with this attitude. I don't think EO were crying about the structures last year when Clonmore put in 3 brilliant performances & still ended up being relegated. You are where you deserve to be. With the numbers they have EO should never be in a relegation battle but obviously not all is well there. In fairness Tinryland threw everything at them today but just came up short. Would have done nothing for the interimediate championship next year if EO went down but clubs will feel they can take on Tinryland & at least compete" Yes, the arrogance was off the scale. But there has always been a severe lack of self awareness in that club.
The fact they ended up in the relegation actually shows that the structure is perfect. Because it exposes poor teams. And doesn't allow them to drift. Éire Óg are a poor team this year. And they got what they deserved.
I attended the games today. Éire Óg fully deserved their win. Tinryland did their best, but gallantry wasn't enough. Bagenalstown were poor against Rathvilly. It's hard to understand how they managed to draw the first day.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 932 - 13/10/2025 00:56:34
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Replying To DolmenDave: "Well put. I originally thought the interview was defensive but now that you have put it that way, it was pure arrogance. They have a wealth of young chaps at their disposal, a whole team worth actually, and all they have done is mismanage that by sticking with the "lads they've soldiered with" is I think what they said....that went well. From what I have heard on the grapevine they had control over the intermediate team also. Same selectors. And the truth this that the scoreline flattered them today. Fair play to tinryland who could buy have given any more. But changing the championship because Eire Og just about survived ? Arrogance is right." Eire Óg had a bad year, but the hatred from everyone else really shines through in this forum, any other team loses a game and not much is said but by god when Eire Óg lose a game it is jumped on. They were the better team today but of course no one one would like to admit that
Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 41 - 13/10/2025 02:13:25
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Replying To Collio: "Eire Óg had a bad year, but the hatred from everyone else really shines through in this forum, any other team loses a game and not much is said but by god when Eire Óg lose a game it is jumped on. They were the better team today but of course no one one would like to admit that" Yes, they were the better team and they deserved to win.
I don't hate Eire Og. Had many great battles with them when we played at that level.
But there is an arrogance among some people at the club (that's undeniable) and it understandably turns people against them. Mount Leinster Rangers dominate hurling but don't rub people up the wrong way like to the same extent those at Teach Asca so often manage to do.
CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 932 - 13/10/2025 11:16:14
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