Carlow boss Luke Dempsey said intensity in training was the difference between his team winning and losing last Sunday's National Football League opener against Longford.

Dempsey's plans this time last year looked to be in disarray with players leaving the panel on a weekly basis, but he is happy with the bunch he has had in their since March '09.

"I know from March last year until now that the players are a great group to work with and are very interested in inter-county football and as such are proud to wear Carlow jerseys," said Dempsey.

"It's just about stepping up to another level which is a little bit more intense than the club football they play.

"It's not their fault that the intensity in club football in Carlow is a little bit lacking based on the few clubs that are there. But when we get them in it's up to us to see can we raise that level of intensity and the speed of play that we need to be at and I think at times today we showed that," he added.

Carlow travel to the Gaelic Grounds this Saturday to take on Mickey Ned O'Sullivan's Limerick at 7.30pm. Tweet

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