Carlow captain Edward Coady says the only proper way to win promotion is on the field of play.

Disappointed that their bid for inclusion in a 14-team top tier was dismissed by a Central Council vote last weekend, the Barrowsiders will have to be satisfied with a place in Division 2A next year.

Mount Leinster Rangers star Coady accepts that - as they lost a Division 1B relegation final to Antrim earlier this year - Carlow can have no real argument:

"It was an opportunity to rewrite the league structure, but coming from another point of view was it ever right to re-grade the league?" he asks in The Irish Examiner.

"Central Council made the right decision when they didn't allow Cork to dictate the structure of the league. Cork still got relegated, as did Carlow.

"It's John Meyler's second year in charge in 2014 and we would love to back in Division 1B but we only have ourselves to blame.

"When counties were shouting loud about the league there was no reason why Carlow shouldn't put forward their tuppence worth.

"Unfortunately, it didn't work out and we have to stop talking about it now and try and get back to Division 1B for 2015." Tweet

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