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Another great 2 points today and momentum now rolling to next week. We should account for Waterford but I am concerned about our midfield. I think the cracks are there and could be exposed big time against contenders still to come. If we can post 4 from 4 next week hopefully Longford, or Leitrim slip up. We have Wicklow and Tipp on head to head so we would welcome losses to any of the teams we still have to play next week. Bambrick would be a huge loss. He has been struggling with niggles so hopefully he won't be needed against Waterford and the break stands to him to be right for bigger battle ahead. Hopefully we get a day out to Croker at the end of March to play for cup with promotion in the bag. Now wouldn't that be nice . Carlowgeal (Carlow) - Posts: 8 - 15/02/2026 23:56:03 2656701 Link
Replying To DolmenDave: "Which is a great thing to have is it no? Joe is doing a great job. I heard some of the under 21s are involved in some sessions too which is great for the future too. Maybe should just enjoy the positivity that we all wanted for so long. Pressure better than having nothing to cheer for." Totally, its brilliant stuff. Im simply suggesting that they have something new to deal with in next few weeks. Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 583 - 16/02/2026 07:53:11 2656710 Link
Replying To DolmenDave: "Which is a great thing to have is it no? Joe is doing a great job. I heard some of the under 21s are involved in some sessions too which is great for the future too. Maybe should just enjoy the positivity that we all wanted for so long. Pressure better than having nothing to cheer for." Exactly we have had years of going through the motions. Having some pressure and expectations is enjoyable now. Having Joe in who knows the county inside out football wise is what we lacked for years. Only worry at the moment is a midfield alternative to eoghan Ruth. As some one said above, in both games against Wicklow and tipp, when he comes off we lose a good bit of control in the middle of the park. CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 100 - 16/02/2026 08:30:57 2656713 Link
I think we are over reacting to the midfield problem. If you look at games across the country this is a common theme that teams are struggling on their own kickouts due to the new rules. Roscommon lost 13/14 kickouts in a row against Armagh yesterday and Armagh similar when they played into the wind. Games take huge momentum swings it's to be expected it's the nature of the game. We rode our look yesterday yes but we missed quite a few chances ourselves. Win next week and then win 1 of our last 3 should see us up, although would be hoping for more. Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 64 - 16/02/2026 09:01:30 2656720 Link
Replying To DolmenDave: "Good man Square B. You were spot on. Good luck with the rest of the season." And likewise, what happened yesterday in the first half against other teams won't wash but happy to come away with the win as it was effectively over at half time. Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1809 - 16/02/2026 09:02:03 2656721 Link
Replying To Collio: "I think we are over reacting to the midfield problem. If you look at games across the country this is a common theme that teams are struggling on their own kickouts due to the new rules. Roscommon lost 13/14 kickouts in a row against Armagh yesterday and Armagh similar when they played into the wind. Games take huge momentum swings it's to be expected it's the nature of the game. We rode our look yesterday yes but we missed quite a few chances ourselves. Win next week and then win 1 of our last 3 should see us up, although would be hoping for more." It's not just on the kick outs though, when Ruth went off we did lose that bit of control on midfield the last two matches. CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 100 - 16/02/2026 15:05:44 2656814 Link
Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "It's not just on the kick outs though, when Ruth went off we did lose that bit of control on midfield the last two matches." Well I feel like there's a fairly simple solution to that so. Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 64 - 16/02/2026 15:53:09 2656828 Link
Replying To Collio: "Well I feel like there's a fairly simple solution to that so." Expect a player who's mid 30s to act like a robot and play every single minute of every single game? CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 100 - 16/02/2026 16:55:44 2656845 Link
Replying To CarlowJuniorB: "Expect a player who's mid 30s to act like a robot and play every single minute of every single game?" Well he's came off with about 4/5 minutes to go in the last two games I'm sure he would have been able to see both games out. And as previously stated I don't think it's as big an issue as you're making it out to be. My only worry would be our free conversion all other teams in the promotion hunt have a top class free taker. Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 64 - 16/02/2026 18:17:34 2656860 Link
A positive result yesterday leaving us with 3 good wins. Very few would have predicted that even the most optimistic did not see that start ! TIpp were poorish but gave us a lot of problems. Having done really well agaonst Wicklow, oir kick outs were very poor in the first half against a strong wind. That 2 pointer from Chris Blake before half time was immense. Ben's save... top notch ! Our first half attacks were incisive and yielded a good goal from Ross but we should have buried another one at least. Our second half was a mixed bag with excellentt attack on tgeir kick out. The wind strengthened i think and that worked in our favour. Crowley Hulton were very good. The 2 Murphy's played their part and John scoring a lovely floater and Sean bursting out of defence were huge contributions. Conor Doyle again fought like hell and did a fine job battling for the high ball. It was a really fine win and Waterford on Saturday is another big one. Mikey Bambrick certainly was hobnling gping off and woukd be a bjg loss to batgking for midfield ball and carrying at speed into opposition defences. So far, so good but bigger tasks lie ahead. Great however to see our players playing decent attacking football. Players seem to be able to express themselves and some newbies are certainly slotting in while one or two oldies who have come back are doing their thing very well as well ! Plenty to cheer about so far! Thanks to the players for making it worth our while to go again to the games, and we can stick our chest out on Mondays as well !!!! carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1893 - 16/02/2026 19:04:21 2656876 Link
Replying To Collio: "Well he's came off with about 4/5 minutes to go in the last two games I'm sure he would have been able to see both games out. And as previously stated I don't think it's as big an issue as you're making it out to be. My only worry would be our free conversion all other teams in the promotion hunt have a top class free taker." Only worry! Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 583 - 16/02/2026 20:19:36 2656894 Link
Is Darragh Foley injured and on panel. I would have also thought John Phiri and Lee Walker would be near starting if they are still on Panel Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 782 - 16/02/2026 22:18:28 2656917 Link
Great result yesterday. For long periods tipp looked the more likely to win it where as we looked a little off it. Isn't it great to win a game like that. Blakes 2 pointer before half time was a huge score it brought us back into a game we looked in serious trouble in. We settled quick in the second half and we looked more purposeful with the ball. I think we lost 4 kickouts in a row near the end. That brought tipp back into it but I think we would have won it no matter what in the end. When we really needed to we won a crucial kickout. 3 from 3 and this is a big weekend as our rivals will all take points off each other and if we can win we could find ourselves in a great position to get promoted. I think we are struggling in a couple of the defensive positions. I think we are also in a bit of bother around the middle. Ruth looked to be carrying the leg coming off too hopefully nothing serious. Bambrick would be a concern also he took a fair belt. On the positive side Hulton and crowley are flying and Blake seems to pop up with some big scores. Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1738 - 16/02/2026 22:35:59 2656922 Link
Replying To Blackbog: "Is Darragh Foley injured and on panel. I would have also thought John Phiri and Lee Walker would be near starting if they are still on Panel" John phiri injured, lee walker recovering from surgery, darragh foley fit Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 583 - 17/02/2026 08:18:00 2656936 Link
Replying To Blackbog: "Is Darragh Foley injured and on panel. I would have also thought John Phiri and Lee Walker would be near starting if they are still on Panel" I had heard Lee walker had injured his knee or something along those lines. Not sure how true it is or if he's still playing with New Oak in the soccer. CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 100 - 17/02/2026 08:29:11 2656938 Link
Replying To Bimb: "John phiri injured, lee walker recovering from surgery, darragh foley fit" Adam McCarron's injury is not as bad as feared and could be back by end of league and for championship. Another scoring forward to add to the mix. John Phiri will hopefully be back around then also. Maybe Kyle Nolan but I haven't heard anything. Be an option for midfield especially when Eoghan Ruth tires late in games which is understandable. Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1773 - 17/02/2026 09:28:20 2656944 Link