Big game on Sunday to get into the league final against Antrim.

Armagh have improved this year and gave Kildare and Antrim decent games
but we should have too much for them.

Would be great to see the team in the final with the prize of Div 1 hurling at stake.

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 23/03/2017 10:44:44    1970303

Yeah and it will be very interesting to see what the starting fifteen will be. There have been a lot of changes to date but with the final being on Sunday week I'd imagine Colm Bonnar will be starting what would be fairly close to his strongest starting line up. James Doyle and Marty Kavanagh have seen very little action so far mostly due to Fitzgibbon Cup commitments and I'd expect both to start Sunday. Will Seanie Whelan hold on to his jersey. Jack Murphy has made a positive impression since he got his chance. Alfie is also back. Will Shane Kavanagh get a run out? Seamus Murphy made a big difference when brought on against Kildare. None of these questions are easily answered and there are a few more selection dilemmas that you could mention but still it's a good position to be in with, hopefully, a league final to play and the Christy Ring just around the corner.

Ashwielder (Carlow) - Posts: 94 - 23/03/2017 14:48:36    1970422

Wonder where the final is likely to be played, Parnell Park or maybe Mullingar at a guess.

It's getting harder to make the programme/match day panel this year, which is a sign in itself. Dennis Murphy wasn't listed today, is he injured or just out of favour?

Massively important game this day week. More important than Christy Ring in my view, albeit we want to win both.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 26/03/2017 21:41:11    1971483

Good win for the lads today and we are in a great place going into final v Antrim. But can take nothing for granted. We were cruising v antrim last time and let them back in. Going to be a tough one but the lads are flying so I think we can take it. It would be fantastic to get back up to 1B.
It's going to be interesting to see what team starts next week but the panel is there to do it. Seamus Murphy is needed there IMO for his ability to win ball alone. Paul Coady's workrate has been great and he has set the tone for others around him. As for the back line. Gary Bennett has been great and Alfie really tightens up the back 3. Looking forward to the game already :)

sportingplay (Kilkenny) - Posts: 13 - 27/03/2017 00:27:21    1971566

pennypincher (Carlow) - Posts: 777 - 27/03/2017 11:20:33    1971699

Well done to the lads - great to have Carlow senior teams win (well) in both codes on the one day. Often feel we don't get the recognition for keeping both codes going with small playing resources. Often wondered if some ratio could be devised which adjusted for population, clubs, teams etc could indicate relative inter-county success and where we would stand ...

Anyway re the hurling league for next year is there some proposal for restructuring it where there could be 8 teams per division? This could benefit us as we would be playing stronger teams.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 540 - 27/03/2017 11:56:09    1971721

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 27/03/2017 13:33:38    1971791

The match has been confirmed for Newry on Saturday. 3:00 throw in.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 27/03/2017 13:59:14    1971803

There won't be too many from Carlow at that one so. Yet another example of how much respect is shown to lesser hurling counties by the powers that be!

Ashwielder (Carlow) - Posts: 94 - 27/03/2017 14:27:28    1971821

dead_as_dodos (Carlow) - Posts: 459 - 27/03/2017 15:52:36    1971874

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 27/03/2017 16:16:23    1971888

Really and truly the team that finishes top should have home advantage, to allow for some form of reward for topping the table. Surprised at it myself too. I would have said that Mullingar was the most natural halfway house. The counter argument is that the hurling heartland in Antrim is a good 30 or 40 miles north of Belfast i.e. around Ballycastle etc.

Mount Leinster beat Loughgiel Shamrocks there a few years back. We may just get on with now I'd say.

I see that 11 of their scores came from placed balls yesterday through Deaglen Murphy. That was out of a total of 1-15, which is a fairly heavy reliance and is something we can perhaps capitalise on if we're disciplined and receive a level handed/headed ref. One of their corner backs got a straight red too, which will presumably force a change.

We seem to be amassing a decent tally of points in each game, from across both forward lines and center field. Hopefully they can do the business and will peak for this one.

Passer_By (Carlow) - Posts: 510 - 27/03/2017 16:38:16    1971903

pennypincher (Carlow) - Posts: 777 - 27/03/2017 19:47:41    1972000

Carlow Hurling is thriving right now & long may it continue, I see Cadlow Town Hurling Cljb beat St Mullins in a u-14 game a coupon days ago ,that would be a big shock in Carlow at any level yes ,but positive nonetheless

southerncat79 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 80 - 27/03/2017 20:43:04    1972021

Carlow Hurling is thriving right now & long may it continue, I see Cadlow Town Hurling Cljb beat St Mullins in a u-14 game a coupon days ago ,that would be a big shock in Carlow at any level yes ,but positive nonetheless

southerncat79 (Kilkenny) - Posts: 80 - 27/03/2017 20:48:39    1972028

From what I am reading and hearing today, it appears that we will still be in Division Two next year, even if we win. Because they are either going to go with an eight or nine team division one next year.... Has it ever occurred to the GAA that every other code in the world announces changes BEFORE competitions begin (like league of ireland soccer did this year), not after they don't get the set up they want?

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 605 - 27/03/2017 22:07:32    1972065

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 28/03/2017 10:26:12    1972161

This is a team that deserves support. The hurling community in Carlow is small but the team really appreciates it. A win Sunday would see our lads gaining from the experience of pitting themselves against Galway, Limerick and Clare/Dublin in next year's league. This is the only way for the level of hurling in the county to improve and would be a great incentive for all players to re-commit to the cause and push on again.

Ashwielder (Carlow) - Posts: 94 - 28/03/2017 15:03:40    1972284

If Carlow do win at the weekend, do they not have to play a Promotion/Relegation playoff against the losers of the Kerry v Laois game? Ridiclious set up but this is the way it has been the past few seasons

Daragh (Westmeath) - Posts: 6 - 28/03/2017 16:07:36    1972340

carlovia (None) - Posts: 1517 - 28/03/2017 16:48:08    1972382