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Carlow GAA thread

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Best of luck tomorrow to the hurlers.

It's a hell of a Carlow team named it has to be said and some subs bench too. IMO we've never had it so good, but the standard at the top of this competition if high and Leix will be confident too and are in their third final in a row. A good Carlow start might give them renewed doubts especially as we beat them so well the first day but in fairness that was tighter and harder won than the 9 point margin suggests.

In all our important games in this competition this year we've come back when looking in trouble and got goals just when needed. That full forward line tomorrow is our GOAT without a doubt and hopefully they'll find more goals tomorrow. Should be a cracking game and if we're to win this time I can't see it being by more than one score. Maybe it could take extra time again like Offaly.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1872 - 05/06/2026 20:36:15    2678240

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Replying To hurlingguru:  "Best of luck to the hurlers tomorrow. Laois have definitely improved since the first day out. They have plenty of pace in the forward line and it's crucial we don't allow them to win clean possession in the forwards to stop their goal threat.

We also can't afford to gift them long distance shots at goal as anyone from 5 to 15 is capable of scoring from distance.

The big pitch should hopefully suit our forward line, you'd imagine at least 30 points will be needed to win.

Days in Croke Park are to be cherished, please god the lads can get over the line."
I've never bought this 'big pitch' line when Croke Park looms on the horizon. There are several pitches the length and breadth of it around the county with as many more within a couple of yards.
It's the being surrounded on 3 sides by the looming stands I assume that create an optical image of vastness.

Boxtyeater (Leitrim) - Posts: 798 - 05/06/2026 21:05:40    2678242

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Heading tomorrow, looking forward to it. Leix are favourites, pressure is on them. The last final against Offaly 3 years ago was the best outing I had following a Carlow team. One thing is certain these lads will leave nothing behind bar blood, sweat and tears!!

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 620 - 05/06/2026 21:28:53    2678244

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Replying To Boxtyeater:  "I've never bought this 'big pitch' line when Croke Park looms on the horizon. There are several pitches the length and breadth of it around the county with as many more within a couple of yards.
It's the being surrounded on 3 sides by the looming stands I assume that create an optical image of vastness."
I do agree in general but some of the pitches we play on in the Joe McDonagh are short such as Ballycran and Mullingar.

Maybe its best say that the good surface and predictable bounce of the ball should suit.

Looking at previous Joe Mc and Christy Ring finals we've played in Croke Park, theres definitely more space.

hurlingguru (Carlow) - Posts: 1863 - 06/06/2026 11:24:10    2678284

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Replying To hurlingguru:  "I do agree in general but some of the pitches we play on in the Joe McDonagh are short such as Ballycran and Mullingar.

Maybe its best say that the good surface and predictable bounce of the ball should suit.

Looking at previous Joe Mc and Christy Ring finals we've played in Croke Park, theres definitely more space."
I was heavily critisied here for saying the Carlow team was going backwards in terms of game plan and making the most of our talent. Would anyone think I had a point after today's game?

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 606 - 06/06/2026 17:55:50    2678345

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Replying To Bimb:  "I was heavily critisied here for saying the Carlow team was going backwards in terms of game plan and making the most of our talent. Would anyone think I had a point after today's game?"
Agreed with you at the time given all we did was take the ball and drive it forward, bypassing the middle third. We had so many aimless long balls into a full forward line with 2 against 3 or 4 constantly. We were shown up massively in the league against Kildare and Wexford and today really showed that. The forwards did have an off day but lads were given nothing to work with. 9 points doesn't reflect that match and very disappointed overall but the lads owe the county nothing.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 179 - 06/06/2026 18:09:51    2678347

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Replying To Bimb:  "I was heavily critisied here for saying the Carlow team was going backwards in terms of game plan and making the most of our talent. Would anyone think I had a point after today's game?"
Yes I do agree a little, we had an astonishing amount of wides and goal chance lost.
Look they can't keep it going forever. The sharpness is gone for the moment anyway.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3395 - 06/06/2026 18:34:50    2678349

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Replying To Bimb:  "I was heavily critisied here for saying the Carlow team was going backwards in terms of game plan and making the most of our talent. Would anyone think I had a point after today's game?"
We shot 22 wides. Cant blame the game plan for that. Score half thrm and we win that.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1872 - 06/06/2026 18:52:45    2678351

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "We shot 22 wides. Cant blame the game plan for that. Score half thrm and we win that."
A lot of wides for sure but are you telling me we looked like a well prepared team? A lot of pot shots because there was no link up play. Needed to leave space for Chris in first half instead of lumping in high ball

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 606 - 06/06/2026 19:11:12    2678355

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Agreed with you at the time given all we did was take the ball and drive it forward, bypassing the middle third. We had so many aimless long balls into a full forward line with 2 against 3 or 4 constantly. We were shown up massively in the league against Kildare and Wexford and today really showed that. The forwards did have an off day but lads were given nothing to work with. 9 points doesn't reflect that match and very disappointed overall but the lads owe the county nothing."
Can only thank the players for all they have given.

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 606 - 06/06/2026 19:23:11    2678356

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "We shot 22 wides. Cant blame the game plan for that. Score half thrm and we win that."
Delighted Laois won. If me aunt had balls argument re. wides. Laois the better team all round.

No one calls Laois 'Leix' accept begrudging people on this forum. Go eat your scallions.

Castlecomer man.

CC2020 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 179 - 06/06/2026 21:33:28    2678382

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Replying To Onion Breath:  "We shot 22 wides. Cant blame the game plan for that. Score half thrm and we win that."
That's nonsense talk.

Laois by far the better team. 9/10 Laois beat Carlow, in either code. They just have that edge over Carlow.

The_Pebble (Cork) - Posts: 4 - 06/06/2026 21:47:35    2678388

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I posted here before the game wishing our lads well & was very worried about laois but my post wasn't added.
Nothing went right today. Jesus 22 wides. I don't think I have ever seem that before. If we had taken half of them we would have won. We also butchered 3 goal chances. Our first touch, striking & passing was off today. We also continuously drove long ball into the full forward line when we were outnumbered & came away with nothing.
These lads have given us some brilliant days so not going to stick the knife in. They just didn't preform & made an average enough Laois team than look better than they were. Unfortunately going forward we might not see many more of these days. Kildare are coming down next year & Antrim will improve. We just can't expect the same group to go to the well every time.
I'll never forget the Final in 2023 against Offaly & the celebrations after unfortunately won't be happening tonight

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 345 - 06/06/2026 22:01:36    2678394

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Replying To The_Pebble:  "That's nonsense talk.

Laois by far the better team. 9/10 Laois beat Carlow, in either code. They just have that edge over Carlow."
Funny thing is I wouldn't even say laois were all that better. They were poor enough today it's just they were more clinical. If we were on it today or against another competent team, they would have been punished massively given how many times we turned them over in their own half. Until their goal they were limited to 6 points in the second half, in the space of time we were pumping bad wides,and really didn't look too impressive at all. Overall laois were the better side but to say by far better is a stretch.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 179 - 06/06/2026 22:30:08    2678402

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Funny thing is I wouldn't even say laois were all that better. They were poor enough today it's just they were more clinical. If we were on it today or against another competent team, they would have been punished massively given how many times we turned them over in their own half. Until their goal they were limited to 6 points in the second half, in the space of time we were pumping bad wides,and really didn't look too impressive at all. Overall laois were the better side but to say by far better is a stretch."
Agree, we lacked that finishing edge, just one of those days. I was thinking the performance and match itself was a poor shadow of the absolute cracker against Offaly 3 years ago. These men leave nothing behind in terms of commitment and passion so I won't criticise. Leix were no great shakes, but they put the ball over the bar, so let them enjoy their win. Ceatharlach Abu !!

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 620 - 06/06/2026 23:25:57    2678412

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Funny thing is I wouldn't even say laois were all that better. They were poor enough today it's just they were more clinical. If we were on it today or against another competent team, they would have been punished massively given how many times we turned them over in their own half. Until their goal they were limited to 6 points in the second half, in the space of time we were pumping bad wides,and really didn't look too impressive at all. Overall laois were the better side but to say by far better is a stretch."
Laois played a better brand of hurling, as their manager said they didn't even play well, and yet they won pulling up.

Shot execution is part of the skills of hurling. Carlow looked like a team lacking the basic execution of scoring. As a neutral Laois had a discernable pattern of play. Carlow didn't.

The_Pebble (Cork) - Posts: 4 - 06/06/2026 23:36:28    2678416

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Replying To Bimb:  "I was heavily critisied here for saying the Carlow team was going backwards in terms of game plan and making the most of our talent. Would anyone think I had a point after today's game?"
You're hardly claiming justification on one poor performance, hardly?? Completely under performed. Forget tactics, convert some of these misses, easy misses, could Have been a 10pt win. They're great men, gave us another great occasion. Can only see them stick together, hurling is there lives, carlow hurling
as it has to be. Some of that shooting today was junior B standard, they know that!. Our boys are Leinster senior standard when on their A game, great men, proud carlow men, and proud hurling men and they will be back, Chris, James D, Mouse, Ciaran W, Dion W, Mac, . Add in young talented men like Jack T, Evan K, F Fitz, Donagh M, Conor K, all top men and top players mixing it at highest level and we'll rise again next year… Leix beat us 2/7 last attempts, all big games. They're also too good to loose all of them to be fair.

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 156 - 07/06/2026 03:50:30    2678427

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Replying To The_Pebble:  "Laois played a better brand of hurling, as their manager said they didn't even play well, and yet they won pulling up.

Shot execution is part of the skills of hurling. Carlow looked like a team lacking the basic execution of scoring. As a neutral Laois had a discernable pattern of play. Carlow didn't."
You're not wrong in that laois played the better hurling and looked more in synch with each other play wise, my biggest criticism of Bennett is that his style he has us playing is a bit archaic. Laois could just pick off scored easier as we had to push forward and ho for goals.

But as every Carlow follower here will tell you, yesterday the team was a level below what it has been all competition this year and previous years. Did Marty miss three or four dead balls? You're going back a long long time til that last happened. Anyway we move on, the team has been brilliant in previous years and as some one else said here they can't go to the well every time. The lads owe the county nothing.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 179 - 07/06/2026 11:31:59    2678448

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Replying To CC2020:  "Delighted Laois won. If me aunt had balls argument re. wides. Laois the better team all round.

No one calls Laois 'Leix' accept begrudging people on this forum. Go eat your scallions.

Castlecomer man."
Would you prefer we used 'Queen's County?'

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 1113 - 07/06/2026 12:51:08    2678466

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Replying To CC2020:  "Delighted Laois won. If me aunt had balls argument re. wides. Laois the better team all round.

No one calls Laois 'Leix' accept begrudging people on this forum. Go eat your scallions.

Castlecomer man."
Good man, I'd more worried about your own County who couldn't make the top 3 in Leinster. How long is it now since an all ireland??
Better team won but we underperformed like iv never seen before. Them lads are legends in Carlow & have given us some brilliant days coming from 6 senior clubs & in the recent past it was down to 4 senior clubs. They owe us nothing. Christ they made Carlow men & women proud to wear the colours & rub shoulders with the big boys. Incidentally one of the biggest days was against your boys in 2024 when we fully deserved a draw & could have won.
Yesterday was just one of them days where everything went wrong & we were just off.

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 345 - 07/06/2026 13:40:39    2678484

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