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Carlow GAA thread

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I was fearful of a flat performance today and so it came to pass although to be honest I didn't expect we'd be quite as poor as we were today. Some shocking misses, especially goal chances spurned which is a real ongoing problem. Saying that even if we took our chances I done think we'd have beaten Wicklow who were just a lot hungrier than us today, which doesn't surprise me either after the way their last league game went. They also had their homework done on us and knew they had to shore up the space for Mikey to exploit which they blocked up successfully by getting bodies into the centre of defence. They also had that same area blocked up with bodies which prevented Colm H doing his trade mark drop of the shoulder and acceleration into space. They restricted our ability to set up two pointers also which limited Conor Doyle's influence and after that we were floundering. For me we should have moved Mikey out of that position and possibly put him back into the half back line so he could do damage to them coming out of defence rather than in the forwards. Also we needed choo choo to be brought in as we were crying out for some one to break tackles and burst through that wall of players Wicklow assembled to stop Mikey and Hulton. I can only assume he was injured otherwise I cannot understand how he wasn't brought in.

Anyway, the main thing for this season is we're up in Div 3 next year and now we have a month to recharge and prepare for the Tailteann Cup. For the same reason Wicklow got a bounce today hopefully we'll be wounded after that performance today and will come back stronger for TC. Inconsistency is the hallmark of teams at our level. One week we put in a great performance and look like we've cracked it and look ready to step up, then the next game we fall flat. Leitrim were simply atrocious in their last league game against us and today went out and beat Sligo which looked impossible when we saw them.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1816 - 12/04/2026 19:46:20    2665984

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "I was fearful of a flat performance today and so it came to pass although to be honest I didn't expect we'd be quite as poor as we were today. Some shocking misses, especially goal chances spurned which is a real ongoing problem. Saying that even if we took our chances I done think we'd have beaten Wicklow who were just a lot hungrier than us today, which doesn't surprise me either after the way their last league game went. They also had their homework done on us and knew they had to shore up the space for Mikey to exploit which they blocked up successfully by getting bodies into the centre of defence. They also had that same area blocked up with bodies which prevented Colm H doing his trade mark drop of the shoulder and acceleration into space. They restricted our ability to set up two pointers also which limited Conor Doyle's influence and after that we were floundering. For me we should have moved Mikey out of that position and possibly put him back into the half back line so he could do damage to them coming out of defence rather than in the forwards. Also we needed choo choo to be brought in as we were crying out for some one to break tackles and burst through that wall of players Wicklow assembled to stop Mikey and Hulton. I can only assume he was injured otherwise I cannot understand how he wasn't brought in.

Anyway, the main thing for this season is we're up in Div 3 next year and now we have a month to recharge and prepare for the Tailteann Cup. For the same reason Wicklow got a bounce today hopefully we'll be wounded after that performance today and will come back stronger for TC. Inconsistency is the hallmark of teams at our level. One week we put in a great performance and look like we've cracked it and look ready to step up, then the next game we fall flat. Leitrim were simply atrocious in their last league game against us and today went out and beat Sligo which looked impossible when we saw them."
I don't understand why Sean Murphy hasn't been getting game time. If it's over concerns about discipline, well, some others were hardly shining lights in that area today.

Hopefully he'll stick with the panel and gets a chance in the Tailteann.

Personally, I don't think the Carlow management will be too upset over losing today. The target is the Tailteann, not Leinster.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1080 - 12/04/2026 21:33:03    2666021

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "I was fearful of a flat performance today and so it came to pass although to be honest I didn't expect we'd be quite as poor as we were today. Some shocking misses, especially goal chances spurned which is a real ongoing problem. Saying that even if we took our chances I done think we'd have beaten Wicklow who were just a lot hungrier than us today, which doesn't surprise me either after the way their last league game went. They also had their homework done on us and knew they had to shore up the space for Mikey to exploit which they blocked up successfully by getting bodies into the centre of defence. They also had that same area blocked up with bodies which prevented Colm H doing his trade mark drop of the shoulder and acceleration into space. They restricted our ability to set up two pointers also which limited Conor Doyle's influence and after that we were floundering. For me we should have moved Mikey out of that position and possibly put him back into the half back line so he could do damage to them coming out of defence rather than in the forwards. Also we needed choo choo to be brought in as we were crying out for some one to break tackles and burst through that wall of players Wicklow assembled to stop Mikey and Hulton. I can only assume he was injured otherwise I cannot understand how he wasn't brought in.

Anyway, the main thing for this season is we're up in Div 3 next year and now we have a month to recharge and prepare for the Tailteann Cup. For the same reason Wicklow got a bounce today hopefully we'll be wounded after that performance today and will come back stronger for TC. Inconsistency is the hallmark of teams at our level. One week we put in a great performance and look like we've cracked it and look ready to step up, then the next game we fall flat. Leitrim were simply atrocious in their last league game against us and today went out and beat Sligo which looked impossible when we saw them."
Our record in Leinster over last 3 years is… 2026 lost first rd to Wicklow by 11pt, 2025 lost first rd to Meath by 14pt, 2024 lost first rd to Wexford by 23pt.
Some years ago Turlough went on national TV demanding our right to play in the Leinster championship. Surely at this stage that's pointless as based on the application today and preparation and our recent results and based on the previous comments here it is no longer our priority. There's no point in entering a championship if we do not target it to try produce our best and see where we sit against the best the opposition has to offer. Championship is sacred in GAA whether it be club or inter county level, that's where you Are truly judged and ranked.
Is it time to bring in a Graded championship like the hurling or as similar to club competitions, 12 senior, 12 inter, 10 junior which could include carlow, Longford, Waterford, London , New York, Kilkenny, possibly Leitrim, Antrim, Sligo, Tipperary or one of the other exile teams like Barcelona (if highest ranked). At least have a chance to win a championship. Des Cahill suggested this on rte radio sport the day after our league success after playing Joe Murphy's interview from croke park.
There can be no argument for us to be included in the Leinster championship at this stage.

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 122 - 12/04/2026 22:02:59    2666034

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My God we were so poor. I was afraid of this game all week as Wicklow had nothing to lose. I pointed out all league about how poor we were at taking goal chances... guess what we were terrible again today. If we had even gone for points intead of trying the goal chances we would have been in that game. The celebrations went on too long if you ask me & we got carried away. Wicklow are not a good side & we made them look unbeatable. Div 4 teams are so unpredictable as look at Leiteim beating Silgo today...If we played Wicklow next week we could win by 10

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 326 - 12/04/2026 22:34:42    2666046

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "Our record in Leinster over last 3 years is… 2026 lost first rd to Wicklow by 11pt, 2025 lost first rd to Meath by 14pt, 2024 lost first rd to Wexford by 23pt.
Some years ago Turlough went on national TV demanding our right to play in the Leinster championship. Surely at this stage that's pointless as based on the application today and preparation and our recent results and based on the previous comments here it is no longer our priority. There's no point in entering a championship if we do not target it to try produce our best and see where we sit against the best the opposition has to offer. Championship is sacred in GAA whether it be club or inter county level, that's where you Are truly judged and ranked.
Is it time to bring in a Graded championship like the hurling or as similar to club competitions, 12 senior, 12 inter, 10 junior which could include carlow, Longford, Waterford, London , New York, Kilkenny, possibly Leitrim, Antrim, Sligo, Tipperary or one of the other exile teams like Barcelona (if highest ranked). At least have a chance to win a championship. Des Cahill suggested this on rte radio sport the day after our league success after playing Joe Murphy's interview from croke park.
There can be no argument for us to be included in the Leinster championship at this stage."
You've entirely missed the point. Leinster is no longer 'the championship.'

The GAA have made the provincials irrelevant because they now barely feed into the actual championships

Ask yourself a simple question: would you rather have beaten Wicklow today, or would you rather beat them in 5 weeks time in the Tailteann (if we drew them)?

The 'day out' era is over.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1080 - 13/04/2026 01:04:41    2666065

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Very poor performance yesterday. Clearly the Div 4 impact was at the root of this. Maybe the team will redeem themselves in the Tailteann, but perhaps we lack the experience, focus and depth to perform in both the league and championship? We need to get to the stage where we can put back to back performances together.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 610 - 13/04/2026 07:57:08    2666070

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Its unbelievable how a lot of posters here are brushing over that appalling performance yesterday. We were playing a Wicklow ( Not Dublin or Meath) and were played off the field at home. The hype train must of got to the group and when you see the beating that Longford got at home yesterday, the Div 4 win has to be put in perspective. Yes, it was great to finally get silverware but yesterday was a game that we should be winning and having a crack at the Dubs, we wont get chances like this very often.
Also, the over the top comments by the manager about not needing any outside help (not true by the way, our head coach is from Limerick) came back to bite as McConville said in his reaction afterwards that it was a motivating factor for him.

Dualclub1 (Carlow) - Posts: 301 - 13/04/2026 08:28:08    2666073

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Replying To Dualclub1:  "Its unbelievable how a lot of posters here are brushing over that appalling performance yesterday. We were playing a Wicklow ( Not Dublin or Meath) and were played off the field at home. The hype train must of got to the group and when you see the beating that Longford got at home yesterday, the Div 4 win has to be put in perspective. Yes, it was great to finally get silverware but yesterday was a game that we should be winning and having a crack at the Dubs, we wont get chances like this very often.
Also, the over the top comments by the manager about not needing any outside help (not true by the way, our head coach is from Limerick) came back to bite as McConville said in his reaction afterwards that it was a motivating factor for him."
Don't be minding him and his motivation. He has a hundred thousand good reasons to take issue with what Joe said. His interests a red not the betterment of football in Wicklow.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1816 - 13/04/2026 10:48:28    2666099

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Replying To CARPS:  "You've entirely missed the point. Leinster is no longer 'the championship.'

The GAA have made the provincials irrelevant because they now barely feed into the actual championships

Ask yourself a simple question: would you rather have beaten Wicklow today, or would you rather beat them in 5 weeks time in the Tailteann (if we drew them)?

The 'day out' era is over."
Not missing the point at all. We're both on the same page here from what I'm reading in your post. We seem to both agree we shouldn't be fielding in Leinster, pointless exercise. But should be straight into a competition that suits our level, rather than dragging the season out.. allowing more times for our club championship, like the McDonagh does. Winning The Tailteann isn't a realistic goal as we're not at the level of top 6/8 teams in it so there's a need for another level to give us a chance, likewise Waterford, Kilkenny, London, Leitrim, Longford, New York etc.. give us a realistic chance of more days in Croker...

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 122 - 13/04/2026 11:06:58    2666102

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Replying To Carlowtothecore1:  "Not missing the point at all. We're both on the same page here from what I'm reading in your post. We seem to both agree we shouldn't be fielding in Leinster, pointless exercise. But should be straight into a competition that suits our level, rather than dragging the season out.. allowing more times for our club championship, like the McDonagh does. Winning The Tailteann isn't a realistic goal as we're not at the level of top 6/8 teams in it so there's a need for another level to give us a chance, likewise Waterford, Kilkenny, London, Leitrim, Longford, New York etc.. give us a realistic chance of more days in Croker..."
Bit of a simplistic view of the results the last three years. Wexford one was bad yesterday but last year against meath we had a manager leave the squad the week before, players and management left the panel and it was a bare bones. Beat Fermanagh in the tailteann, drew with Wexford and bad loss to Longford giving us a tough match against Sligo away. This year the game came a week or two too early given the drop off from the league final. It wasn't just not prioritising, there was a lot to go again after it but the manner of the performance is a worry.

People who say a third competition is good don't have a clue what it's like being from a weaker county. They point at the Joe Mc and say it's good but it's seen as a nuisance because the finalists get a match in the prelim quarters so that's scrapped. It's run off fast then same time as the Leinster/Munster championship and gets little to zero screen time on the Tele. They don't even bother with the Christy ring/Nicky rackard/lory meagher. Without googling 99% people won't be able to tell you who won each one last year.

Having a third tier competition with some counties who don't give a toss about football and two overseas teams would be a disaster and would expect some players to not bothering to tog. People expressing an interest in making these competitions don't come from Carlow/Leitrim/Longford etc.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 143 - 13/04/2026 12:31:28    2666129

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