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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Serious bottle shown to get over that. Incredible group of players"
Really hope they get a big crowd for the London game. They deserve it. To go to Ballycran and Mullingar and come back with statement wins like those is sensational.

Also, we should remember what happened last November, when pre-season preparation was thrown into chaos so late in the day. Pat Bennett deserves a lot of credit for turning it around after a difficult start.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1102 - 11/05/2026 10:48:17    2672246

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The first 40 minutes was atrocious yesterday but fair play to the lads for digging in and should/could have won the game in normal time and extra time. It would have been easy to coast to the full time whistle. It can't be underestimated the impact of not having Mikey Bambrick, Colm Hulton, Eoghan Ruth, John Murphy. Was Colin Byrne also injured?

Focusing on the positives, I thought Lee Walker, Conor Doyle and Jamie Clarke were outstanding. Jamie's direct running was the reason we got back into the game in the first place. Conor Crowley was also unmarkable when he came on, 6 points from play is a great contribution.

Very disappointed with the crowd, I was shocked when I walked into the grounds. Antrim were never going to travel but how many were there from Carlow? 600 odd?

ACarlowGael (Carlow) - Posts: 42 - 11/05/2026 10:51:39    2672252

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Will assume the match will be against Leitrim in two weeks and they will be gunning for us after the league game.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 166 - 11/05/2026 13:24:17    2672316

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Replying To ACarlowGael:  "The first 40 minutes was atrocious yesterday but fair play to the lads for digging in and should/could have won the game in normal time and extra time. It would have been easy to coast to the full time whistle. It can't be underestimated the impact of not having Mikey Bambrick, Colm Hulton, Eoghan Ruth, John Murphy. Was Colin Byrne also injured?

Focusing on the positives, I thought Lee Walker, Conor Doyle and Jamie Clarke were outstanding. Jamie's direct running was the reason we got back into the game in the first place. Conor Crowley was also unmarkable when he came on, 6 points from play is a great contribution.

Very disappointed with the crowd, I was shocked when I walked into the grounds. Antrim were never going to travel but how many were there from Carlow? 600 odd?"
What would you expect. We all paid hard earned money to look at the shameful effort against Wicklow, and then for the manager to use an excuse that they were still exhausted from a game two weeks previous. I was there yesterday but many obviously decided it wasn't worth the value.
You have to earn the supporters respect..
heard the Leitrim manager saying after their Galway loss that they were disrespected in advance. Weird one considering their previous outing was a hammering from us.
Think we dodged a bullet with that appointment .

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 146 - 11/05/2026 13:47:05    2672329

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "What would you expect. We all paid hard earned money to look at the shameful effort against Wicklow, and then for the manager to use an excuse that they were still exhausted from a game two weeks previous. I was there yesterday but many obviously decided it wasn't worth the value.
You have to earn the supporters respect..
heard the Leitrim manager saying after their Galway loss that they were disrespected in advance. Weird one considering their previous outing was a hammering from us.
Think we dodged a bullet with that appointment ."
You have to earn the supporters respect? Genuinely can't believe you'd make a comment like that, stay at home next time. Carlowtothecore? Good one

Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 108 - 11/05/2026 19:41:31    2672454

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "What would you expect. We all paid hard earned money to look at the shameful effort against Wicklow, and then for the manager to use an excuse that they were still exhausted from a game two weeks previous. I was there yesterday but many obviously decided it wasn't worth the value.
You have to earn the supporters respect..
heard the Leitrim manager saying after their Galway loss that they were disrespected in advance. Weird one considering their previous outing was a hammering from us.
Think we dodged a bullet with that appointment ."
You're taking the league win celebrations and Wicklow result on its face with zero nuance to it. Carlow's first bit of silverware in nearly a century, the lads were completely entitled to go and celebrate the win. Hardly ever comes around. Along with that, there are still the commitments to doing the rounds and going to schools, sure they had an open training session. The game just came a week or two too soon, look at nearly every other team that reached the league finals. Wexford got pumped, Meath lost to Westmeath in a similar lethargic fashion, cork weren't great against Limerick and Longford were put to the sword completely. Down the only one that went well. Our eyes were off the ball not surprisingly, meanwhile Wicklow had an extra week to lick their wounds and come back against a tough loss to us and an awful result against Longford.

Yesterday was terrible for 40 mins but given the much weakened panel we had missing three key starters, to show the bottle and fightback to get back in after being 10 points down and to also concede a goal against the start of extra time is a tough one. I'll reserve judgement just yet on the year.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 166 - 11/05/2026 21:22:49    2672462

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "What would you expect. We all paid hard earned money to look at the shameful effort against Wicklow, and then for the manager to use an excuse that they were still exhausted from a game two weeks previous. I was there yesterday but many obviously decided it wasn't worth the value.
You have to earn the supporters respect..
heard the Leitrim manager saying after their Galway loss that they were disrespected in advance. Weird one considering their previous outing was a hammering from us.
Think we dodged a bullet with that appointment ."
"Shameful effort."

"You have to earn the supporters respect."

Just listen to yourself. The players had just won a trophy in Croke Park two weeks earlier.

You clearly never played the game, and you haven't a clue. Go off and watch soccer, it'd be more to your taste.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1102 - 12/05/2026 10:08:13    2672511

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "You're taking the league win celebrations and Wicklow result on its face with zero nuance to it. Carlow's first bit of silverware in nearly a century, the lads were completely entitled to go and celebrate the win. Hardly ever comes around. Along with that, there are still the commitments to doing the rounds and going to schools, sure they had an open training session. The game just came a week or two too soon, look at nearly every other team that reached the league finals. Wexford got pumped, Meath lost to Westmeath in a similar lethargic fashion, cork weren't great against Limerick and Longford were put to the sword completely. Down the only one that went well. Our eyes were off the ball not surprisingly, meanwhile Wicklow had an extra week to lick their wounds and come back against a tough loss to us and an awful result against Longford.

Yesterday was terrible for 40 mins but given the much weakened panel we had missing three key starters, to show the bottle and fightback to get back in after being 10 points down and to also concede a goal against the start of extra time is a tough one. I'll reserve judgement just yet on the year."
KCLR pointed out that Division 3 and 4 league winners have an appalling record in their provincial championship in recent years. It just comes around too soon.

I can't fault Sunday's performance. The lads tried their best. I've a few quibbles with decisions made on the line, but overall I think Murphy has done a good job, so I won't elaborate. His big challenge now is to broaden the squad over the summer and autumn.

Also, we have every chance of beating Leitrim. So there may well be a few twists left in the 2026 tale.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1102 - 12/05/2026 10:12:23    2672513

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Replying To CARPS:  "Look, these people clearly never played the game and they don't understand how it works.

Wexford were in our shoes last year and they flopped in both Leinster and the Tarletan, but then went on to get promoted to Division Two this season.

At our level, you simply won't win every game. What's more important is consistency of performance and clear indications that the players are doing their best. And that was clear today.

We lost today because of a kick of a ball or two. We won in Croke Park because of a kick of a ball or two. There's no fundamental difference in that ourselves and Antrim and Longford are much of a muchness. The same applies to teams like Fermanagh or Sligo or Laois, who we have to play next year.

Anyone who understands the game knows this is just how it is.

I actually thought given how many key players were missing, we did well. My main concern is that the panel lacks depth in defence and midfield. Joe and his team really need to seriously scour the clubs this summer. Two of our best players yesterday, Phiri and Walker, come from junior clubs and there must be more lads like that out there."
All bow to CARPS knowledge of the game. He seems to know everything & if you give your own opinion & he doesn't agree with you he says you obviously never played the game( for the record I played a long time at a decent level)
I'd love our lads to go up to Carrick( I expect Down to beat them) & come away with a win but after the last 2 games I don't have much confidence. Wicklow hammered us. Antrim scored SIX goals. That is just unacceptable at any level. Even in the league game where we comfortably beat Leitrim we conceded 2 goals after 10 minutes & it didn't look good. Joe has to sort out our defence as we get opened up so easily. Players leaving the squad is also disappointing after the highs of winning silverware in Croker. I think Cho Cho would have done a job for us on Sunday but he has made his decision.
Hopefully we get a few of the injured lads back & give it a good go in Carrick because they will be well up for it after the league game

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 339 - 12/05/2026 12:44:10    2672571

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Replying To carlo:  "All bow to CARPS knowledge of the game. He seems to know everything & if you give your own opinion & he doesn't agree with you he says you obviously never played the game( for the record I played a long time at a decent level)
I'd love our lads to go up to Carrick( I expect Down to beat them) & come away with a win but after the last 2 games I don't have much confidence. Wicklow hammered us. Antrim scored SIX goals. That is just unacceptable at any level. Even in the league game where we comfortably beat Leitrim we conceded 2 goals after 10 minutes & it didn't look good. Joe has to sort out our defence as we get opened up so easily. Players leaving the squad is also disappointing after the highs of winning silverware in Croker. I think Cho Cho would have done a job for us on Sunday but he has made his decision.
Hopefully we get a few of the injured lads back & give it a good go in Carrick because they will be well up for it after the league game"
It's Choo Choo. He from Fenagh, not Zaragoza or Cancun. And I agree we could have done with him, especially in the absence of Bambrick. It seems there has been some poor man-management there.

If you'd played the game at decent level, surely you'd understand that players aren't robots and you can't expect 100% consistency all season. You'd also understand the mental issues around having a huge win and having to go do it again two weeks later. This is also why very talented club teams often totally flop in provincial championships after the high of winning a county final.

Why do you think only Eire Og consistently perform well in Leinster when they win Carlow? It's a mindset thing. Which O'Hanrahan's briefly managed to also adopt in the early 2000s with an incredibly gifted team.

You're right about the six goals. Unacceptable. But your language earlier was out of order.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1102 - 12/05/2026 14:36:16    2672607

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Can someone clarify, are there more than Choo Choo and Atkinson gone from the panel ? Both losses IMHO.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 616 - 12/05/2026 15:44:05    2672626

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Replying To Bainisteoir:  "Can someone clarify, are there more than Choo Choo and Atkinson gone from the panel ? Both losses IMHO."
I heard Paddy Regan from Tinryland gone also. Lack of game time the issue with all 3. Pity as in a small county we want & need everyone.
Seanie Bambrick was also back in with the panel after the league final but is gone abroad again so won't be involved

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 339 - 12/05/2026 16:45:04    2672646

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Replying To CARPS:  "It's Choo Choo. He from Fenagh, not Zaragoza or Cancun. And I agree we could have done with him, especially in the absence of Bambrick. It seems there has been some poor man-management there.

If you'd played the game at decent level, surely you'd understand that players aren't robots and you can't expect 100% consistency all season. You'd also understand the mental issues around having a huge win and having to go do it again two weeks later. This is also why very talented club teams often totally flop in provincial championships after the high of winning a county final.

Why do you think only Eire Og consistently perform well in Leinster when they win Carlow? It's a mindset thing. Which O'Hanrahan's briefly managed to also adopt in the early 2000s with an incredibly gifted team.

You're right about the six goals. Unacceptable. But your language earlier was out of order."
Think people gloss over the conceding 6 goals too. With bambrick and Ruth missing we had to shift furey and phiri further up field. Two very important defensive players missing. Colin Byrne also didn't start. Crowley a big miss up front too then. It's not all doom and gloom.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 166 - 12/05/2026 16:52:42    2672648

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Replying To Bainisteoir:  "Can someone clarify, are there more than Choo Choo and Atkinson gone from the panel ? Both losses IMHO."
Paddy Regan also I believe. I don't think he got any minutes at all in the league or championship. all the other absentees bar choo choo and Ian A. are caused by long injury list and suspension. I don't think any will be back for Leitrim, apart maybe from Colin Byrne.

I couldn't understand why choo choo wasn't brought on v Wicklow. At a time when we were still in that game we were crying out for someone like him to break lines. He must have said he's had enough after that. He had a great game v Tipp when introduced but it went downhill when he was sent off v London. In that case his rawness cost him as he miscontrolled a ball and without intent he went crashing into someone and there was only one outcome to that. Ian Atkinson got one start this year and played very well v Waterford in the league. Heavy conditions that day suited him though and he's not really a top of the ground type county player if that makes sense.

Disappointed to lose last Sunday but despite being 10 down we actually did enough to win it. We were a point up well into injury time in normal time and should have seen it out. If we had we'd all be saying what a comeback.

Playing probably Leitrim away now will be tough, especially down so many. Depends what Leitrim show up. The one v Galway we're in big trouble. Whatever happens this year has been a big success, and focus must be on staying in Div 3 next year. Good to see fellas like Adam Burgess and Kyle Nolan getting lots of game time last Sunday, they'll have a big part in the years ahead.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1843 - 12/05/2026 17:11:18    2672656

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