New Carlow hurling boss Kevin Ryan has admitted that he is looking forward to trying to fill the boots of his predecessor Jim Greene, who led the Barrowsiders to the Christy Ring Cup this past season. Ryan is close friends with Greene, who recently stepped down from his position with Carlow after a rift with the County Board over the timing of a team holiday to New York, and admits that he won't be an easy act to follow in the space of one year. "Jim did tremendously well in his one year with Carlow," said Ryan. "By winning the Christy Ring Cup so soon after coming in, Jim surprised himself. "It certainly won't be easy to replicate Jim's achievements, and the ban on collective training and on challenge games in November and December is not a help. I agree with the ban, but it makes things very difficult for new managers like myself, as we can only have trial matches among ourselves." Ryan's side face a testing National League campaign this year, with their opening game away to Offaly, and the likes of Wexford, Laois and Ulster champions Antrim to follow. "We have to play four teams who were Division One this year, while we're just up from Division Three," he said. "It's going to be very hard to win points in those matches, but still that's the type of company you aspire to be in. Obviously our aim will be to retain Division Two status, but that will amount to some challenge." Tweet

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