Great occasion on Saturday with Carlow winning in style - some haul for James Doyle and an exhibition of free taking from Denis Murphy. Certainly the celebrations showed what the win meant to the team, mentors and Carlow support. Lets us hope they can kick on now against Laois - they will have momentum ...

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 540 - 12/06/2017 10:37:21    1998323

Any word on the venue for the Laois game? I'd take Nowlan Park in a heartbeat. It would get all the hurling followers from Carlow and hopefully a few kilkenny people that might be om our side!

Ashwielder (Carlow) - Posts: 94 - 12/06/2017 14:47:22    1998513

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 12/06/2017 17:32:44    1998645

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 12/06/2017 17:54:18    1998660

Any word on the team or challenge matches for Sunday ?

We have a great chance if we perform like last weekend.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 19/06/2017 16:32:33    2001950

Beating Laois would be a step up again.

And why not. The team is improving. They haven't hit the bottom of the barrel yet!

As I always say, it's all to play for. My prediction, Carlow by two points!

Here's hoping!

Blackbogger (Carlow) - Posts: 170 - 19/06/2017 21:39:27    2002155

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 605 - 20/06/2017 09:51:14    2002335

Huge game on Sunday for both our team and especially Laois. We are Ring champs but Laois will not want to let us get past them. They have had the better of recent exchanges and they have had more power physically when the fat was in the fire and when games needed to be won Laois had more firepower in the forwards. Laois are not the same team as in the past 3 years and we have a real chance on Sunday. I think the key will be the ability to use the spaces and use the ball wisely when we have possession. Looking at how we played in Croke Park - if we can repeat that performance with the same level of control - we have a chance. If we shoot from distance and are accurate- we will not win. We created a lot of goal chances against Antrim and we will need to take all our goal chances if we are to win. Can we do it - yes but it will be a huge ask I believe.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1821 - 23/06/2017 16:00:48    2004077

I would be a wee bit concerned about our backline. We conceded a lot to Antrim .4-15 is enugh to win most games. We need to tighten up there. Also jack Kav needs to up his game (if he starts), he has been mediocre enough up to now. We have the forwards to win but no use if you're leaking at the back .Good luck to all.

dead_as_dodos (Carlow) - Posts: 459 - 24/06/2017 12:59:05    2004276

Best of luck today.

I still think this is a bigger ask than the CR challenge.

It'd be a nice one to win!

Blackbogger (Carlow) - Posts: 170 - 25/06/2017 10:19:05    2004649

Best way to describe it.. aaarrrrggggghhhhh!
One that got away..

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2625 - 25/06/2017 19:46:33    2004969

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1412 - 25/06/2017 21:38:34    2005103

Heartbreaking stuff yesterday!

fergie (Carlow) - Posts: 1115 - 26/06/2017 05:38:16    2005303

Disappointing as yesterday was, I can't say we deserved to win it. I was far more impressed with how Laois hurled and how hard they worked after they went a man down. Carlow had an extra man for 47 minutes and didn't make any real use of it!! Can't have any excuses. The lads did well to reel off 4 points to go in front in injury time and I suspected at that point that Laois were (understandably) tiring. But they somehow found a way. Carlow fans and especially players will be raging cos they were there for the taking, and Dublin in the next round would have been something to look forward to....

thinlizzy (Carlow) - Posts: 263 - 26/06/2017 11:39:14    2005569

Blackbogger (Carlow) - Posts: 170 - 26/06/2017 14:14:25    2005722

Tend to agree with blacbogger. Team didnt play well but laois have been playing wexford, galway and limerick while we played mayo, wicklow and london.

Carlow have improved so much during the year and the great thing is the age of the panel is so young.

We peaked in croke park and thats as it should be. The next step is to get out of div 2 and compete with the sttonger teans on a regular basis.

Huge effort from the whole panel the last 6 months and im already looking forward to next year.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 26/06/2017 16:42:23    2005873

Disappointing result on Sunday, Laois were there for the taking

Dualclub1 (Carlow) - Posts: 278 - 28/06/2017 16:27:50    2006981

Very disappointing result. Laois were most definitely there for the taking. Would have been great to get a go at the dubs. But in reality we should not really have been in qualifiers. They system is flawed. Christy Ring winners get to leap frog poor Meath and Kerry straight into the qualifiers??? Makes very little sense to me.
Having said that, that is not the players issue and they can just do their best, which they did. Brian Treacy was immense in goal. Chris Nolan laser sharp when introduced. Two things let us down, not using the extra man, and a poor first touch.

sportingplay (Kilkenny) - Posts: 13 - 28/06/2017 18:01:41    2007034

Good that Bonnar is looking to stay on, seems to have a good response from the players and decent bit of silverware to boot! We need to target promotion next season in the league, playing to a higher standard will bring us on ....

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 540 - 29/06/2017 15:12:24    2007501

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/gpa-suggest-six-amendments-to-gaas-hurling-championship-proposals-2018-2020-797944.html

This if considered, would be a significant improvement. As it stands the proposed qualifier group would only see one team qualify, which would lead to dead rubber games to my mind.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 15/07/2017 09:08:09    2016771