o'byrne cup
I take your point Dual supporter but who would you have at CHB? I thought young st Ledger played well enough in the position, he may not be the final answer but our options there are limited. That chap has a great attitude unlike some others and fully deserves to be on the panel. The best club player in that position dosnt have the necessary disclipine or commitment for this level as has been proven in the past and anyway hasn't fully delivered on his potential for the county. Also talk of the likes of Dublin players misses the point a bit - the most realistic objective we have is promotion from Div 4, anything after that would be a bonus in my view this year. Anyway according to what I'm hearing on the ground our midfield situation might be resolved shortly (please God) and that man on his day is a match for the best in the Leinster. On Mark Brennan he has been almost a 'utility' player in his Carlow career - his best position by far was full back under Hayes, any game there he cleaned up, if played there (if he commits to the footballers this year) could Liam Murphy then be an alternative option at pivot where he has played for the county in the past?
Bainisteoir , 06/01/2009 at 11:03

New York trip
ok thanks for the info...ur a star!!!
carlowlou , 06/01/2009 at 10:27

New York trip
It's in the United States of America
All Star , 06/01/2009 at 10:11

New York trip
i was looking for info on the hurlers trip to new york
carlowlou , 05/01/2009 at 23:01

o'byrne cup
Was at d match yday and agree with a few comments here but not all.Even tho we didnt win i as happy enough comin away,after d first half i thought we were goin to be slaughtered but we knuckled down in the 2nd n worked hard.I was disgusted with havin to pay for a programme...half d players named werent playin n d ones dat were werent in position,are d wicklow county board responsible for the programme?????? One thing dat was blatantly obvious n i dont care what anyone says but wicklow def had 4 weeks training behind them,they were first 2 every ball and slick passin at speed was impressive at times all i can say is i hope we are up to speed for the league. I agree we are in trouble at midfield i thought ray walker wudve started there but i guess luke was tryin out a few players in different positions and there are a good few players to come back still so im not 2 worried.Well at least we know tom walshe wont be playn for wicklow this year so its either carlow r london now it seems id say london meself.Mark brennan is n new york and as far as i know hes playn football this year
THE BOSS , 05/01/2009 at 22:50

o'byrne cup
If Mark Brennan is going to play hurling only why did he play in the town v. country trial last Monday? I was told the reason he wasn't there yesterday was simply because he is in New York with the hurlers.
Onion Breath , 05/01/2009 at 21:59

Midfielders
Is the word definite they are not returning?
carlow4sam , 05/01/2009 at 21:58

Midfielders
its very unlikely that the walshes will be in and i would say that goes the same for niall reid and mark brennan is hurling so our options are very limited
Barrowsider , 05/01/2009 at 19:00

o'byrne cup
I was at the game yesterday, we were awful in the first half improved after the break but were in big trouble throughout the game in midfield and the half forward line, i dont think it's fair to judge the defence to hard when our half forward line would'nt mark up there men and track back. Liam murphy did well but needs to slim down a bit stledger did well i felt and alan curran played well in the 2nd half, as for midfield where do you start we dont even get the basics of midfielding right and from what i know neither the walshes or mark brennan will be in with the latter opting for hurling. As i said the half forward line was our worst line yesterday changes will have to be made there, the full forward line did better with mark carpenter the best followed by brian murphy. Its very early in the year and im sure by the leauge we will have a system of play.
Barrowsider , 05/01/2009 at 18:02

o'byrne cup
Well, the sad news is that Mark Brennan won't be joining the panel, so that removes another midfield option. I guess we will have to grow some :(

A far cry from the days when we had Garvan Ware, Hugh Brennan, Jody Morrissey, Derek Treacy and Sean Kavanagh all right.
TAFKANO1FAN , 05/01/2009 at 17:20

o'byrne cup
Carlow were cleaned at midfield yesterday which was the biggest problem.No foot hold for anyone else in the half lines to establish themselves. Both midfielders were not up to intercounty standard.Young redmond doesent even know the flight of the ball and was at sea.Ledger tried hard but is too young at centre back and was shown up only for the loose ball he picked up.Brian Murphy was very good and JJ Smith looked dangerous when supplied with ball but not enough went in.Liam Murphy coped well at full back considering the pressure he was under.Also there is no point in talking about walshes or anyone else who wont be available for selection.
Kilbill , 05/01/2009 at 16:44

Midfielders
When/if the two Walshes return to Carlow football who do think should partner eachother in midfield?
In my own opinion it would be Thomas Walshe and Angie Reid if he decides to commit to the panel
carlow4sam , 05/01/2009 at 15:58

o'byrne cup
I'm afraid 'bannisteoir' we will not have the services of Pat Walshe as he is on his travels for a year - this is one of the problems with carlow in that we never seem to have our full compliment of players all together at the one time. I dont think S Gannon is the answer to midfield at county level (good at club in that position) or Daniel St Ledger at centreback - his man yesterday scored at least 1-1 before he got yellow carded! Those positions need experienced players not young lads - cant see sean gannon up against dublins c. whelan - men against boys!
dual supporter , 05/01/2009 at 15:27

o'byrne cup
I agree with the assessment of some of the other contributors on the O'B cup yesterday, it was meaningless, albeit a welcome confidence booser for the winner and an opportunity to try out some new players at this level. Only the Clarke, Hayden and Carpenter would be counted as seasoned regulars, the rest either novices at this level or lads who have played a bit on and off over the last year or so. We have a big bunch to come back yet - dunno if Mark Brennan is committing to the footballers ? Also good to see some of the key positions are being looked at St Ledger had a shot at CHB and Liam Murphy at full back. These positions have not been nailed down over the past few years - presumably the returing Walshes will anchor midfield with Dathi Byrne / young Gannon from Eire Og. However a lot of work needs to be done - remember some of Wicklow's panel have been training in the off-season. We are away to Offaly next Sunday and then three weeks to prepare for Clare at home and then Leitrim away - a tough one.
Bainisteoir , 05/01/2009 at 14:11

o'byrne cup
Was also in Blessington yesterday - say nothing to really impress for carlow there. I know it was only first game of season but we were awful in first half and if wicklow had taken even half of their wides they would have been out of sight by halftime!
Over the whole 70 minutes we never won one ball in the middle of the field - we are starting the year again with the same old problems - lacking players for the key positions. On a positive its good to see ray walker back and shane myers when introduced was effective. Its Offaly next weekend so heres hoping for a better performance.
dual supporter , 05/01/2009 at 12:34

The good old days...
dunno lad... was olan corcoran playing that day/
old yellar , 04/01/2009 at 23:55

o'byrne cup
To answer your question it proved to be a very weak panel with only four or five experienced players starting. Dreadful first half performance and in truth we could have received a mauling from anything other than what was a poor enough albeit also an experimental Wicklow team. Both teams were rusty but Carlow were certainly second to most balls with the notable exception of Mark Carpenter who was the probably the most dangerous attacker on view - he was a huge loss to Carlow in 08. Both sides were clearly in experimental mode but I would have little doubt that when we get the Walshe brothers, Mark Brennan, Simon Rea, Paul Cashin, Derek Hayden, Eric McCormack and Brian Carberry, to name but eight, back on board we should be a lot stronger than the best that the likes of Wicklow can assemble and we will certainly be there or thereabouts with Sligo and Leitrim in the Div. 4 promotion shake up (a pity we are away to both). Anyone know what the story is with the Reid's, I know Scoby has had a cruciate operation but the others?
Onion Breath , 04/01/2009 at 22:36

moving county grounds
i was wondering what are the hurlers plans in New York?
carlowlou , 04/01/2009 at 21:55

o'byrne cup
I was in Blessington to-day for the match, I came away quiet happy, maybe not with the final result but what I saw on the day, we were playing a fancied Wicklow team in their own back yard, most of them have at some stage been playing together as a team over the past two may be even three years with the exception of a couple,they also have the privelage of playing under a tried and tested management team, I am not making excuses for our defeat, far from it, I am just leading to why I came away happy with what I saw. We went from 1-1 to 0-0 down to something like 1-5 to 1-1 at the break, they stretched their lead even further in the second, something like 6points at one stage, we clawed our way back to score line of 1-10 to 1-08 with a couple of minutes left and things seem to be happening for us until WW got a a very soft free close to the far side line a long kick was taken when one of our players seem to have been fouled,while waiting for the free that wasn't given concentration was lost was lost, and the ball ended up in the net, so now we are after going from being 2 points down and 1 kick of a ball between us, and a chance to win by a point, to loosing by 5 points.
They appeared to be much fitter and faster than us, it's as if they had no closed season. Luke will work on getting the lads fittness levels up and honing their scoring skills, the thing that I'm happy with is that they all tried, may be some a bit harder than others but it's too early in the year and wouldn't be fair to start mentioning names, I am confident that the process will come good sooner rather than later of that there is no doubt.
Beleive it or not what really up set me on the day was the quality of the programme, I was very very dissapointed with what was dished out to us, and at a cost of 3 Euros. I was looking forward as I usually do to identifing the players on the field with that on the programme, I dont think any of the players started in the suggested position of the programme, in fact I think quiet a few of them didn't start at all, numereous changes were announced before the throw in, not good enough, in fact not good enough at all, and rub salt into the wounds they had Paul Bealin down as the Carlow manager, if I was Luke Dempsey I wouldn't be happpy with that, to conclude no excuses accepted as the correct date (04-01-09) was on the cover.
Ceatharlach Abu. ------------------ Happy new year to all.
supersub15 , 04/01/2009 at 21:24

moving county grounds
I hear that the land originally set aside for the new county centre of excellence has been ditched. I hear the county board are now buying a lot more land (70 acres im told) in a different location but very close to the original site. Fair play to them i say for having the vision to make money by liquidising their assets ans building a state of the art facility and still have money left over. This money could then be spent on developing the GAA in carlow.
eire32 , 04/01/2009 at 13:54