Carlow manager Joe Murphy hailed his players for the fight they showed to defeat Longford in yesterday evening’s Allianz Football League Division 4 final at Croke Park.

The Barrowsiders triumphed to their county’s first ever senior football title at headquarters on a 1-24 to 2-18 scoreline after extra time.

Speaking to RTE Sport afterwards, Murphy said he was proud of his group and hopes that it can be a stepping stone towards more success for the county in the future.

"Look, you saw the stand, you saw the people at the end of it, you saw the colours flying and we're not really used to that," he said.

"I've never been a footballer with Carlow or with Éire Óg, or a manager with Naas or anything, (and) won at Croke Park before, so I can only imagine how the people of Carlow are going home tonight and there'll be a good celebration.

"What might have detracted people from coming today was there being so much hurt here, down through the years, Carlow, and it's a big sacrifice now with the cost of living to go to Dublin; if you're going with high expectations of winning you might just get into that car or get on that bus a little bit quicker.

"We have Wicklow in two weeks’ time [in Leinster] and that's at home in Carlow, and we'll see the full value of that win today.

"So it's all stepping stones, we're just trying to build blocks and put a bit of foundation into the thing and give Carlow people that sense that we can achieve, we can get better, and we don't fear, you can't play with fear.

"There are so many teams better than us but there is fight in us and we showed that today. It's a thing to really enjoy, and to really take it on board, and realise that the wee county of Carlow has brought home national silverware.

"Be proud of it, and it might influence a few young lads to think that they can be here, and see what's at the end of it. That's all we want to do in Carlow, just build those blocks for success in the future."

🗣️ ‘We didn't need any outside influence to do this, it's all Carlow people, and maybe that's a lesson for the future...’@Carlow_GAA manager Joe Murphy stressed the importance of his homegrown management team as they won Division 4, their first win in Croke Park in 55 years! |… pic.twitter.com/mgluZda17D

— Off The Ball (@offtheball) March 28, 2026

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