Kerry manager Fintan O'Connor believes it is imperative to win your opening game in the Joe McDonagh Cup.

The Kingdom begin their campaign with a trip to Carlow to take on the home side at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday afternoon (throw in at 2pm). 

The Joe McDonagh Cup is set to be a very competitive affair as the six teams in it will have genuine designs on coming out on top. Such is the nature of the championship, a county could easily be in the chase for honours or a relegation battle.

Kerry and Carlow met in the NHL 2A campaign earlier this year and on that occasion, it was the Barrowsiders that recorded a comfortable win.

However, this time around, it is expected to be a lot closer and O'Connor told the Kerryman that every county will be looking to get off to a good start.

"The Carlow game is a massive game for both teams," said O'Connor. "If you win, you're nearly saying it'll give you momentum going into it and if you lose you just have to dust yourself down and go out the following week and try to get a win, because every game is going to count.

"You don't want to be in the bottom two and you're never going to be safe."

Tweet

Most Read Stories