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To be fair, it seems Cake is no fool. He gets to leave with his reputation intact. Two decent wins at the end of the league campaign. We are now back to square one. The obvious thing would be to ask Joe Murphy to take over for couple of months. But the county board won't do that. Wouldn't surprise me me if Luke Dempsey returns on a short term deal. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 26/03/2025 23:08:42 2598802 Link
Replying To Onion Breath: "It seems that every year in Carlow we're given hope that next year's minors or U-20's will be strong and should be capable of a run on the basis that we hear half of the current team are underage again next year ... and then next year comes along and lo and behold it's the same story again. I dunno how much of that is down to the 7-8 guys underage again not actually committing to it again for their final year, or is it that the balance of guys at the right age (17 and 20 respectively) who needed to make up the team are not strong enough so another batch of the best of next year's team have to be brought in? If it's the latter then it indicates we're only producing say 7-8 players each year actually strong enough to play county. And ultimately that's down to a combination of the clubs and the work they are putting in or not in many cases (I mean clubs with potentially big picks here) and the structures (too many small clubs going it alone who aren't able to produce competitive teams alone and potentially strong players are missing out on development). Anyway hopefully we see some green shoots tonight." All great points Onion. And it's the same old question isn't it, where do these talented chaps go ?? But it's the same old same old. The fact is the underage lads at minors and 20s every year, with the odd exception obviously, are not up to it. These are big jumps with the physical progression of chaps. I said it about the minors a couple of months ago and a couple of people who obviously have underage chaps on the panel got offended by it but it's a fact, the weaker chaps on minor and 20s panels, again with the odd exception, are the underage. You're seeing it with the minors this year and now with the 20s. The proof is in the pudding. And unfortunately by the time the coaches realise this it's too late because the of age chaps are so disillusioned by being replaced by an underager, who is obviously not up to scratch, they have lost interest in it. And so the cycle continues year after year....it's the coaching, not the chaps. It's all about club and looking after your own in Carlow... Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 26/03/2025 23:48:55 2598804 Link
Replying To Onion Breath: "It seems that every year in Carlow we're given hope that next year's minors or U-20's will be strong and should be capable of a run on the basis that we hear half of the current team are underage again next year ... and then next year comes along and lo and behold it's the same story again. I dunno how much of that is down to the 7-8 guys underage again not actually committing to it again for their final year, or is it that the balance of guys at the right age (17 and 20 respectively) who needed to make up the team are not strong enough so another batch of the best of next year's team have to be brought in? If it's the latter then it indicates we're only producing say 7-8 players each year actually strong enough to play county. And ultimately that's down to a combination of the clubs and the work they are putting in or not in many cases (I mean clubs with potentially big picks here) and the structures (too many small clubs going it alone who aren't able to produce competitive teams alone and potentially strong players are missing out on development). Anyway hopefully we see some green shoots tonight." There are many many green shoots and talented hopefuls around this county. It's how they're managed and by whom is the issue. Thats why we're not seeing progress. Not the chaps issue whatsoever. Bracker1984 (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 26/03/2025 23:53:05 2598805 Link
Knew the noises from camp were bad, but didn't expect this. They'll have no option now but to ask Sinon Rea to step in for rest of season while they look for a permanent solution. Smokeless Red (Carlow) - Posts: 26 - 27/03/2025 06:23:14 2598812 Link
Is Rea not involved with Portlaoise GAA club? Certainly a temporary solution is best at this stage. By the looks of it he lost the dressing room, I wonder was there a post league review that sparked this … ? Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 570 - 27/03/2025 07:30:09 2598816 Link
We all had heard that things weren't good but after getting to the end of the league I thought Curran would at least see out the Championship & TC. He finished with 2 good wins. However he should never have been appointed in the first place. That's on the county board who showed no ambition at all but no surprises there. Will be very hard to get someone before Meath game & it will just be a stop gap. Who will want to take over a team who are facing a hiding from Meath in their own backyard. Another year wasted. carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 251 - 27/03/2025 08:26:42 2598823 Link
Replying To CARPS: "To be fair, it seems Cake is no fool. He gets to leave with his reputation intact. Two decent wins at the end of the league campaign. We are now back to square one. The obvious thing would be to ask Joe Murphy to take over for couple of months. But the county board won't do that. Wouldn't surprise me me if Luke Dempsey returns on a short term deal." I don't know if his reputation is intact. Pretty disgraceful IMO to walk out on a team 11 days before the Championship. He had 39 players in the squad last month, how many had he left by yesterday? No way Joe would touch it. Naas are well into championship prep now and he won't do two jobs even for a month or two. Luke, no way the game has literally changed and he's out of it too long. Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1514 - 27/03/2025 08:52:40 2598829 Link
Replying To Smokeless Red: "Knew the noises from camp were bad, but didn't expect this. They'll have no option now but to ask Sinon Rea to step in for rest of season while they look for a permanent solution." Simon has the U/20s for at least another month and he's coaching Portlaoise so like Joe Murphy he just wouldn't have the time. It'll be an internal and interim stopgap I'd say. Peter McConnon with Brendan Hayden maybe? Or Damien McMahon? Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1514 - 27/03/2025 08:55:21 2598830 Link
Replying To Smokeless Red: "Knew the noises from camp were bad, but didn't expect this. They'll have no option now but to ask Sinon Rea to step in for rest of season while they look for a permanent solution." 'Cake' was a funny appointment to start with let's be honest. I'm not sure he had the right temprement for county management and particularly at Division 4. Seeing it out until the end of the season would have been the right thing to do and bring in players who want to play if that was the issue (reading through the lines it was fron the statement put out). Square_B (Leitrim) - Posts: 1231 - 27/03/2025 09:20:48 2598832 Link
Strange appointment ends predictably enough. Makes you wonder what sort of interview process was done. Looking at what we got I'm thinking not much of one. It all seemed so adhoc from day 1 Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1704 - 27/03/2025 09:59:40 2598840 Link
Replying To Onion Breath: "Simon has the U/20s for at least another month and he's coaching Portlaoise so like Joe Murphy he just wouldn't have the time. It'll be an internal and interim stopgap I'd say. Peter McConnon with Brendan Hayden maybe? Or Damien McMahon?" My reason for suggesting Simon is because he is U20 Manager. At this stage, I'd be looking at salvaging something from the season & use the Tailteann Cup to give some U20's a taste of Senior football. Smokeless Red (Carlow) - Posts: 26 - 27/03/2025 10:00:40 2598841 Link
Replying To Onion Breath: "I don't know if his reputation is intact. Pretty disgraceful IMO to walk out on a team 11 days before the Championship. He had 39 players in the squad last month, how many had he left by yesterday? No way Joe would touch it. Naas are well into championship prep now and he won't do two jobs even for a month or two. Luke, no way the game has literally changed and he's out of it too long." He'll be fine. It's Carlow and we have form for this kind of thing. Why did Luke Dempsey have to come in for the championship in 2004? How did John Kearns end up in control? Back in the day Paddy Morrissey. Turlough also walked away mid season. Cake saw out the league and finished top half. Looks good on his CV. He did better than Carew. Re: Joe Murphy.... Tom Mullally also manages Naas and he's able to judge the two. I don't want Luke to take over. I am saying it's like something that could happen. The big question is why has Cake walked... we all know. It's because Carlow football is toxic. He was a bizarre appointment. We should stick to local managers. It's not like outsiders are going to win Leinster for us. You might as well be in Division 4 with one of your own as with a fellow from 200 miles away. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 27/03/2025 10:48:16 2598857 Link
Replying To Square_B: "'Cake' was a funny appointment to start with let's be honest. I'm not sure he had the right temprement for county management and particularly at Division 4. Seeing it out until the end of the season would have been the right thing to do and bring in players who want to play if that was the issue (reading through the lines it was fron the statement put out)." We walked because of what happened in London. After the game. That was the final straw. Hard to blame him, to be honest. Typical Carlow. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 27/03/2025 10:49:28 2598858 Link
Replying To Smokeless Red: "My reason for suggesting Simon is because he is U20 Manager. At this stage, I'd be looking at salvaging something from the season & use the Tailteann Cup to give some U20's a taste of Senior football." You are right, he would have been the obvious stopgap contender given the 'pickle' we are in. Whatever happened is not a good look for the county externally. Perceptions (whether right or wrong) of indiscipline, player power etc will not help in terms of securing a permanent replacement, presumably in the autumn. To be fair until the weekend you would have felt things had stabilized to some extent ? Finally, do we know if Joe Murphy was ever actually approached for the job? Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 570 - 27/03/2025 10:58:58 2598862 Link
Replying To CARPS: "We walked because of what happened in London. After the game. That was the final straw. Hard to blame him, to be honest. Typical Carlow." Needless to say, I mean "he walked," not "we walked." I was not part of the management team!! CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 27/03/2025 11:06:28 2598867 Link
Replying To Barrowsider: "Strange appointment ends predictably enough. Makes you wonder what sort of interview process was done. Looking at what we got I'm thinking not much of one. It all seemed so adhoc from day 1" It was indeed a strange appointment; it was his first senior intercounty attempt at management that was self-aborted after just 7 games which suggests he found himself out of his depth. Walking away does not solve any problem, rather it creates another. Now is the time for the Carlow Co. Board to show the county they were part of an error making decision. In my opinion they should send an appropriate email to all div.1 county boards, to explain our Delima, request their assistance in facilitating Carlow senior football team with a temporary high-profile person to manage the team on a short-term basis ie, for Carlow's duration in the Leinster senior football championship and the TC competition. Carlow needs a miracle at this stage to lift morale and what better way of doing it than by bringing in a big name the bigger the better even though it will only be for a few games over a couple of weeks. Failure to win even one game will not tarnish his reputation rather by agreeing to take the job it would raise his profile even further for his sporting gesture alone. This is a one-off chance to bring in a high-profile manager, admittingly short term, as the old saying goes, - - hope springs eternal. supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3142 - 27/03/2025 11:10:29 2598870 Link
Replying To CARPS: "Needless to say, I mean "he walked," not "we walked." I was not part of the management team!!" What happened in London? Carlowrising (Carlow) - Posts: 166 - 27/03/2025 11:13:08 2598872 Link
Replying To Bainisteoir: "You are right, he would have been the obvious stopgap contender given the 'pickle' we are in. Whatever happened is not a good look for the county externally. Perceptions (whether right or wrong) of indiscipline, player power etc will not help in terms of securing a permanent replacement, presumably in the autumn. To be fair until the weekend you would have felt things had stabilized to some extent ? Finally, do we know if Joe Murphy was ever actually approached for the job?" Joe Murphy has never been approached for the job. He's become the Brian Clough of Carlow GAA. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 27/03/2025 11:16:52 2598875 Link
Replying To CARPS: "Needless to say, I mean "he walked," not "we walked." I was not part of the management team!!" Sure Cake ! Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1514 - 27/03/2025 11:32:13 2598877 Link
Replying To Carlowrising: "What happened in London?" Doubt I'd be allowed to post it here. It'll come out soon enough. CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 803 - 27/03/2025 11:38:02 2598882 Link