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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To Square_B:  "A very sensible assessment of the state of play in Division 4. I also think it will come down to a shootout on the last day vs yourselves which will add to the excitement of course. Ye both bet Antrim by 4 points so probably will be a tight enough game but having bet Wicklow, I think ye will shade it.

The game to watch is our own this weekend, depending how that plays out could be a sticky one as your own match v London would be the 'shootout' for promotion. Still lots to play for in Division 4."
Expecting a victory Sunday, can't expect anything less in my opinion they have shown they're a good team and need to be winning these games. This is the strongest panel we've had in a long time with numbers 1-30 all good players even the lads not making the match day squad.
I don't expect Leitrim to be playing for promotion come the final day, have already lost one game have a tough game this weekend away in London and also still have to play Antrim and Tipp, would be doing very well to get 2 wins out of 3 from them games.

Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 61 - 14/02/2026 09:12:46    2656291

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Replying To Collio:  "Expecting a victory Sunday, can't expect anything less in my opinion they have shown they're a good team and need to be winning these games. This is the strongest panel we've had in a long time with numbers 1-30 all good players even the lads not making the match day squad.
I don't expect Leitrim to be playing for promotion come the final day, have already lost one game have a tough game this weekend away in London and also still have to play Antrim and Tipp, would be doing very well to get 2 wins out of 3 from them games."
It's a very Carlow attitude to not want to believe it trust in the team to kick on. Two very good wins over Antrim away and Wicklow at home. We honestly should have won the Wicklow game by about 10 points, put over so many easy wides. Wide open pitch tomorrow in semple, good turf and a strong running team. Could be a big statement win tomorrow.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 96 - 14/02/2026 12:45:17    2656325

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Replying To Collio:  "Expecting a victory Sunday, can't expect anything less in my opinion they have shown they're a good team and need to be winning these games. This is the strongest panel we've had in a long time with numbers 1-30 all good players even the lads not making the match day squad.
I don't expect Leitrim to be playing for promotion come the final day, have already lost one game have a tough game this weekend away in London and also still have to play Antrim and Tipp, would be doing very well to get 2 wins out of 3 from them games."
I disagree with your assessment, Tipp & Antrim are well beatable. Assuming we win tomorrow and I think we will shade it just, the rest of our games are very winnable.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1804 - 14/02/2026 12:57:26    2656330

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Replying To Square_B:  "I disagree with your assessment, Tipp & Antrim are well beatable. Assuming we win tomorrow and I think we will shade it just, the rest of our games are very winnable."
I think you're overestimating the strength of your own team, only time will tell.

Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 61 - 14/02/2026 15:49:08    2656343

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Replying To Collio:  "I think you're overestimating the strength of your own team, only time will tell."
I'm not.

Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1804 - 14/02/2026 16:25:31    2656349

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Replying To Square_B:  "I'm not."
Some come back for Leitrim. Thought London had dog walked you for that.

Hard gritty win that for us. First team since the promoted one in 2018 where you can feel they have a hardiness to them.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 96 - 15/02/2026 15:34:58    2656560

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Looking good for us after 3 games
We won second half 10 -3. Tipp had 13 wides.
Yes we rode our luck at times but they are a confident team.
In pole position now
But no counting of eggs yet

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 781 - 15/02/2026 15:43:16    2656564

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Building nicely. Seems we rode our luck at times. Brilliant penalty save. Last year we'd have lost that game. Our subs in the three games so far making big difference to the team. Waterford next Saturday is now huge. They pushed Wicklow all the way last night and should have beaten Longford who hammered Antrim today

Brendandoyle (Carlow) - Posts: 9 - 15/02/2026 16:27:59    2656576

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Replying To Blackbog:  "Looking good for us after 3 games
We won second half 10 -3. Tipp had 13 wides.
Yes we rode our luck at times but they are a confident team.
In pole position now
But no counting of eggs yet"
Never mind chickens

Blackbog (Carlow) - Posts: 781 - 15/02/2026 16:41:04    2656583

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Take the win all day long but not a good performance for long periods. Destroyed in Midfield for the whole fist half & last 10 mins of 2nd. Played well for 20 mins of 2nd half & got level. Tipp missed a lot of chances. Not running down any player but our kick outs were killing us. 3 from 3 so we move on

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 302 - 15/02/2026 17:05:51    2656593

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Replying To carlo:  "Take the win all day long but not a good performance for long periods. Destroyed in Midfield for the whole fist half & last 10 mins of 2nd. Played well for 20 mins of 2nd half & got level. Tipp missed a lot of chances. Not running down any player but our kick outs were killing us. 3 from 3 so we move on"
That same goalie saved a penalty today and put in one of the best goalkeeping performances I've seen in a long time for Carlow against Wicklow. We played poorly and still won, the sign of a good team. 3 from 3 and still huge room for improvement.

Collio (Carlow) - Posts: 61 - 15/02/2026 17:24:36    2656600

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Replying To Collio:  "That same goalie saved a penalty today and put in one of the best goalkeeping performances I've seen in a long time for Carlow against Wicklow. We played poorly and still won, the sign of a good team. 3 from 3 and still huge room for improvement."
Mikey bambrick did well on breaks around mid field so his loss was huge in a lit of ways. Kick outs were better in firstv2 games but its hard as we dont have an ibvious target at mid field. Not a great performance but a huge win. The pressure builds week after week now but this is a brilliant position to be in.

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 580 - 15/02/2026 17:45:12    2656603

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Replying To Square_B:  "I'm not."
Good man Square B. You were spot on. Good luck with the rest of the season.

DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 60 - 15/02/2026 18:22:54    2656626

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Replying To carlo:  "Take the win all day long but not a good performance for long periods. Destroyed in Midfield for the whole fist half & last 10 mins of 2nd. Played well for 20 mins of 2nd half & got level. Tipp missed a lot of chances. Not running down any player but our kick outs were killing us. 3 from 3 so we move on"
Valid points but there is fight there that had been missing for years. And the chaps are all learning. Will only get better.

DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 60 - 15/02/2026 18:24:39    2656627

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Tipp definitely let us off the hook today with their poor shooting but we also defended well, that said, great start to the league and we can't take Waterford for granted next week. Waterford have kept a good account of themselves so far in the league and I'd expect next Saturday night to be very competitive also.

Mikey Bambrick did great work for the goal and could be a huge loss next week if he is ruled out. The other 5 forwards all scored so hopefully we can keep that momentum going of all our forwards contributing to the score board. John Murphy did well when he came on and brilliant stuff from Ben McCarron in goal with the penalty save.

The new players that management brought in this year Blake, Bolger, Curran, Hulton, Ruth, McCarron and Roche x 2 have really freshened things up and are all playing brilliantly. With 3 home games and 1 away game left we have got ourselves in to a great position but division 4 can throw up big surprises so we need to stay grounded till we get 10 points on the leader board.

Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 193 - 15/02/2026 19:20:01    2656647

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That was fairly ropey today. In fact at the final whistle my initial reaction was that we were steeped to get the win the way the last five minutes went in particular when Tipp took over kicked at least 3 bad wides. Still it has to be said that disjointed and all as the performance was, where we only played in fits and starts, the team did show great character and even when we went 7 points down in the first half I still think they believed they'd get back into it. I think the two pointer from Chris Blake right on the stroke of half time was a huge score, 6 points reduced to 4 was a big boost and badly needed when it came.

Once again today we went out of it near the end after Eoghan Ruth was taken off. Same against Wicklow. Hopefully Mike's is ok as we also missed him and went out of it after we went off injured mid second half.

Another thing to worry about is how slow we are to start games. We seem to give every team we play a 3-4 point head start before we move up a few gears. Hopefully we can change that next Saturday and for once get ahead early and then push on and put a team away on the scoreboard. We have 3 wins but all tight enough margins, 4, 3 and 3.

Big game next week and we have to expect we'll beat Waterford but after that there's more tough games to come. I'd safely say if we play as we did today we won't be able to win all remaining games. Longford away is looking a much tougher task now after their big win today. Leitrim are clearly improving. At this stage no one bar Waterford and Antrim are really out of contention.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1772 - 15/02/2026 19:30:57    2656652

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The way Tipp pressed the kick out leaving 4 players on the arc made it very difficult to get away short kick outs. Tipp struggled themselves at times in the 2nd half against the wind.

On another day we could have had 3 or 4 goals, just didn't take the chances. Blake's 2 point free before half time was very important. Colm Hulton was outstanding again today.

When you see some of the players who didn't get any minutes today, it really shows we have a strong panel.

Plenty to work on but great to be saying that after another win.

ACarlowGael (Carlow) - Posts: 33 - 15/02/2026 19:33:45    2656653

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Replying To Bimb:  "Mikey bambrick did well on breaks around mid field so his loss was huge in a lit of ways. Kick outs were better in firstv2 games but its hard as we dont have an ibvious target at mid field. Not a great performance but a huge win. The pressure builds week after week now but this is a brilliant position to be in."
Honestly Waterford in Dr Cullen is by far the best match we could have next. Weakest team of the group and expect a win from that. If we win, odds on to go up this year even with two tough last games left.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 96 - 15/02/2026 19:51:36    2656655

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Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Honestly Waterford in Dr Cullen is by far the best match we could have next. Weakest team of the group and expect a win from that. If we win, odds on to go up this year even with two tough last games left."
It is but pressure will be growing.

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 580 - 15/02/2026 20:06:05    2656660

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Replying To Bimb:  "It is but pressure will be growing."
Which is a great thing to have is it no? Joe is doing a great job. I heard some of the under 21s are involved in some sessions too which is great for the future too. Maybe should just enjoy the positivity that we all wanted for so long. Pressure better than having nothing to cheer for.

DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 60 - 15/02/2026 22:50:12    2656691

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