Carlow manager Jim Greene believes his side will have earned the right to compete in next year's Liam McCarthy Cup if they beat Laois in next Saturday's promotion/relegation play-off tie. Sceptics will say that the Barrowsiders will be out of their depth at that level and that a season of heavy defeats would undone all the good work which led to them capturing the Christy Ring Cup on Sunday, but Greene is confident that they can defy such predictions. "You only know if you are ready if you go and play and do yourself justice," the Waterford native said. "We'll play Laois and see how we get on and take it from there. The fact that we're in Division 2 next year with the like of Wexford and Offaly and others is great. We have plenty of yardsticks to measure ourselves against and see how we are progressing." Thousands of Carlow supporters lined the streets of Carlow town to welcome home their heroes after the thrilling extra-time victory over holders Westmeath at Tullamore, and Greene says the success was fitting reward for the work that has gone into Carlow hurling over the past number of years. "It was deserved for people like Lester Ryan and others who have been putting work into hurling here behind the scenes. We got a garda escort into the town and we got a great reception. The lads deserve it. They are a fantastic bunch." Tweet

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