Great to see 2 new semi finalists in carlow town and erins own....although its hard to see either make the final but you cant rule anything out

arrows85 (Carlow) - Posts: 202 - 13/09/2009 18:58:26    424585

I have to say its says something about the standard of club hurling in this county when a team with a panel of about 18 players -of which approx 12 lads have been training over the season can make the semi finals in senior hurling. Having seen all teams play at one stage or another this year I would say that both ballinkillen and st mullins appear to be in transition with alot of their older more experienced lads retired from senior hurling - dont know what happened to naomh brid - perhaps they concentrated on football this year. Great to see bagnelstown reaching the final stages this year - they have done so much to promote hurling down there and all their underage success is now coming through to senior. Hard to call who will win between themselves and miseal - should be a good match with the winners facing Rangers in final.

dual supporter (Carlow) - Posts: 772 - 14/09/2009 10:11:58    424981

have to agree with dual supporter about standard of hurling in the county. I was at all the Rangers matches this year and the standard in all was poor. That includes the hurling the Rangers are playing. The match yesterday between the Rangers and St. Mullins was poor. Even before the sendings off, the level of simple catching, striking and lifting was intermediate level from both teams. If it was any other year i would not back us to win the county final because we are playing so poorly but the only thing that might shade it is that we have six forwards that are capable of chipping in with scores.

The rest of the teams are not that far behind as some posters are saying. In a lot of the games there was plenty of hurling but the other teams just couldnt score. And i am talking about simple scores missed when players were not under pressure form our backs. I think it will be a Myshall- Rangers final and i would not put too much money on the Rangers in that final.
By the way best hurler by a mile on show at yesterdays match was Tom Doyle at full back for St. Mullins. A pity he isnt still hurling for the county.

Can anybody give a quick run through the match between Myshall and BTown. What was final score.

aragorn1 (Carlow) - Posts: 156 - 14/09/2009 11:54:26    425101

The standard of hurling is poor but the Rangers are far ahead of the rest. They can only play what's in front of them. They are young, fit and have plenty of skill. Their only problem could be dealing with a sustained challenge in a game which could possibly come in a county final. I would say Myshall will get to the final and while they will put it up to the Rangers (sorry Carlow Town!) I still thinkl that after getting caught on the hop last year that the Rangers will not let the same thing happen again.

Podge (Carlow) - Posts: 33 - 14/09/2009 15:07:47    425361

people are already talking about the county final and the semis have yet to be played! people in carlow tend to get ahead of themselves. I wouldnt for 1 second rule out carlow town or bagnalstown. I think both semi-finals could go either way. Theres nothing as bad as been to sure of something.
As we,ve seen down through the years, carlow hurling is full of suprises! I am looking forward to 2 cracking semi-finals. Best of luck to the 4 teams involved.

drcullenpark (Carlow) - Posts: 17 - 14/09/2009 16:00:04    425445

Think it is ten MLR lads on the county panel, probably speaks for itself. Reckon Rangers are the team to beat even though they are starting to collect cards and with a football championship running as well they could lose a few to injuries etc. Reckon they will see off Carlow Town who are as suprised as anyone with their progress out of the group. Myshall B-Town will not be as one sided as yesterday and I expect a tight game. Big Des is back and he can still do a massive job off the bench at club level. Its only 4 yards to the goal from where he usually starts! Gives Myshall a bit more inside even if only for 15mins. Reckon Myshall to shade it, and Rangers to be a little worried about a final against them based on previous experience. Rangers would have to play a bit inside themselves to be beaten.Best of luck to all 4 involved again.

getonwithit (Carlow) - Posts: 527 - 14/09/2009 18:48:09    425672

i think in rangers and erins own you have the best 2 teams this year there anyhow. I dont think there was an awful lot between the rest, but still fairplay to myshall and carlow town in getting there. i agree with one of the last posts in saying that a couple of the clubs are rebuilding or in need of it. we need a vibrant club scene to help our county team. hopefully next year all the clubs will be pushing harder for a semi.

old yellar (None) - Posts: 2631 - 14/09/2009 19:49:30    425724

Bear in mind that Naomh Brid qualified last for the semi finals and went on to win it last year. Being the best two teams in the competition so far means nothing in knock out in September, the first round was back on the 20th of the June. Would be great for hurling for Btown to qualify, and well deserved too, but I still think Myshall will shade it.

getonwithit (Carlow) - Posts: 527 - 14/09/2009 22:04:44    425869

tightest game rangers had all year was against carlow town, don walker training them will know mlr inside out, they have no baggage with rangers ,erins own need to put players in best position ,naomh eoin chancing it putting shane midfield,, robbing peter to pay paul,theor full back line there for the taking,eo need to pull it out wide, not physically strong enough to compete with likes of robbie,lester,etc

polaris (Carlow) - Posts: 53 - 14/09/2009 22:36:42    425919

Aragorn1 it was

Naomh Eoin 4-11
Erins Own 2-06

I am a bagenalstown man and I felt they were a disgrace yesterday and I cant understand the logic behind putting an inexperienced goalkeeper in the goal and a county keeper out the field who is clearly better in goal. Andrew Townsend is a fantastic goalkeeper but he is still only a minor and they have a county keeper out the field. Maybe he should play junior before stepping up to senior.

I also think they look tired and are being over-trained from my look at training sessions.

hurlingguru (Carlow) - Posts: 1847 - 14/09/2009 22:48:27    425940

I ment david miley is better in goal than in the forwards.

hurlingguru (Carlow) - Posts: 1847 - 14/09/2009 23:46:57    425996

Two good semi finals to look forward to. Rangers should be better than Carlow Town but should be might not be enough. If they have a heavy injury list from their game with St. Mullins and the football to come... then they may not have the reserves to get to the final. If they beat Eire Og ... then they will find it more rather than less difficult to reach the hurling final.

Myshall are always hard to beat and are improving steadily. They are strong and have great leaders on the field. This may be enough to scrape over the line against Erins Own who have improved a lot from last year. They have been the most improved team but have they the heart to carry them to a final? I think that is a big question and a big hurdle for Erins Own to get over. They have good pace in all lines and will need to devise a solid and effective game plan that all the players are comfortable with, if they are to beat Naomh Eoin.

Carlow Town have probably surprised themselves in getting to the semi but St. Mullins and Balinkillen are not fully there yet and N. Brid have not had their full panel together for long enough to be the force they were last year. Town have always been good in finals but in Rangers at semi final stage they are meeting a team who this year seem to be on a mission!

My prediction... Rangers and Erins Own for the final!

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1879 - 15/09/2009 00:11:55    426020

Draw for Leinster Intermediate Championship is out, away to Meath/Kildare champs 1st up in semis so our champions should reach final at least:

Intermediate Hurling Date Venue
1. Kildare v Meath 25.10.2009 Kildare
2. 1 v Carlow 8.11.2009 Home Venue 1

3. Kilkenny v Wexford 25.10.2009 Kilkenny
4. 3 v Wicklow 8.11.2009 Home Venue 3

CRAOBH FINAL: 2 v 4 22.11.2009

The Real 1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 1114 - 18/09/2009 00:21:54    429493

Can never be sure when playing Meath or Kildare in anything. Is that Kildare and Meath senior or intermidiate champions?

hurlingguru (Carlow) - Posts: 1847 - 19/09/2009 10:36:02    430377

Just want to say,that since the start of this decade,both Carlow Town and Erins Own were seen as the whipping boys for the other 5 teams in the SHC.Teams looked at fixtures at start of the year and said,there's 4 handy points for us anyway.Now what a turnaround,that boh of them,in the same year make the last 4.I think EO have not been at this stage since 99 while CT it was 98 i think.Just like to say well done and hope both can push on from here.

fergie (Carlow) - Posts: 1119 - 22/09/2009 22:05:50    433742

Fair comment Fergie, to have 7 truly competitive teams involved in the championship could only be an advantage for all concerned. Would.nt be sorry to see either win at weekend, Erins Own probably better bet, but that is as much to do with Rangers as Carlow Town. Rangers only occupied with one sport now as well. Myshall, with a small pool of players could end up not even seeing a final. Genuine shame that with the increased demands and fitness levels today it is becoming harder and harder to be a dual club. Any thoughts on that anyone?

getonwithit (Carlow) - Posts: 527 - 23/09/2009 23:44:07    434883

We will see the finaL Alright. i predict that we will beat Bagnelstown by at least 14 points. we are better players & stronger. they are not up to it we are a different class. they have a lot of so called county men who never do it on the big day. Myshall to win Handy & get back to where we belong. cant see the town making a semi for another 10 years after this one.

CarlowGael (Carlow) - Posts: 41 - 24/09/2009 12:51:44    435186

what planet are you on carlow gael?14 pts start?town were brutal last day lost by ten naomh eoin wont play any better,town stop the goals going in they will be within 5pts of them and might even pull off a shock,havent won too many games by 14 since paddy q stopped playing

polaris (Carlow) - Posts: 53 - 24/09/2009 23:24:31    435926

We will see on sunday. i still stand by 14points + these are the facts. Bagnelstown are a intermediate side & that will be shown on sunday.

CarlowGael (Carlow) - Posts: 41 - 25/09/2009 11:31:28    436138

myshall wont win by too much. i think this is b-towns chance to get to the final!!

boppin (Carlow) - Posts: 50 - 25/09/2009 12:42:39    436248