National Forum

Carlow GAA thread

(Oldest Posts First) - Go To The Latest Post


Replying To CARPS:  "Why would players want to leave a Division 1B hurling team to play for a Division 4 football team?"
I never said they would. I said the opposite.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 05/10/2025 18:41:56    2638562

Link

Replying To Overthebar53:  "Fine player.i couldn't get in last night.Did Bagenalstown miss their chance?"
Probably but the only thing I'll say is Bagenalstown are getting better every game they play and they know their best 15 and are a very settled team playing to their strengths. In contrast Rathvilly seem to be the opposite and strange positional choices last night demonstrated that. For the favourites they've won only one game out of four in this year's championship.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 05/10/2025 18:45:48    2638563

Link

Nearly a big collapse by OL today. Another 2 or 3 minutes and they would have been beaten. A better team than Pal though and they deserve their final place.

Intermediate game was a poor standard game. I've seen a good few games in that championship and no team has impressed me as a progressive team who would grow more by a spell in senior. Any notion being proposed of increasing the SFC from 8 to 10 teams would be a backward step in my view. The existing intermediate teams are all closer in standard to junior than senior in my opinion. Saying that this is the year to win the intermediate as next year it's a nailed on certainty that the losers on Eire Og and Tinryland will walk the intermediate next year. Bad as both have been this year they've way too much for the intermediate teams.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 05/10/2025 18:53:47    2638564

Link

Replying To Onion Breath:  "Nearly a big collapse by OL today. Another 2 or 3 minutes and they would have been beaten. A better team than Pal though and they deserve their final place.

Intermediate game was a poor standard game. I've seen a good few games in that championship and no team has impressed me as a progressive team who would grow more by a spell in senior. Any notion being proposed of increasing the SFC from 8 to 10 teams would be a backward step in my view. The existing intermediate teams are all closer in standard to junior than senior in my opinion. Saying that this is the year to win the intermediate as next year it's a nailed on certainty that the losers on Eire Og and Tinryland will walk the intermediate next year. Bad as both have been this year they've way too much for the intermediate teams."
Hold on now, while I get what you are saying, tinryland lost to last years inter champs which is the main reason they are where they are. If they do not win it next year they will stick in inter for a long few years. Kildavin are a good example of this

more4me (Carlow) - Posts: 119 - 05/10/2025 21:24:56    2638582

Link

Replying To more4me:  "Hold on now, while I get what you are saying, tinryland lost to last years inter champs which is the main reason they are where they are. If they do not win it next year they will stick in inter for a long few years. Kildavin are a good example of this"
Fair point. I think Fenagh would win intermediate with a bit to spare if they had been in it this year though.

I think the 8 in senior now are the strongest 8 and then there's a gap. Based on what I've seen I couldn't see tullow, Grange or Ballon getting a win or draw next year. In this years senior all 8 picked up points or a point, that might have been a win, in Tinryland's case.

Onion Breath (Carlow) - Posts: 1674 - 05/10/2025 21:51:09    2638584

Link

Replying To Onion Breath:  "Nearly a big collapse by OL today. Another 2 or 3 minutes and they would have been beaten. A better team than Pal though and they deserve their final place.

Intermediate game was a poor standard game. I've seen a good few games in that championship and no team has impressed me as a progressive team who would grow more by a spell in senior. Any notion being proposed of increasing the SFC from 8 to 10 teams would be a backward step in my view. The existing intermediate teams are all closer in standard to junior than senior in my opinion. Saying that this is the year to win the intermediate as next year it's a nailed on certainty that the losers on Eire Og and Tinryland will walk the intermediate next year. Bad as both have been this year they've way too much for the intermediate teams."
Increasing the amount of teams in any grade would be a disastrous step. Our championships are tight, and they have upsets and close games. With plenty of drama and no dead rubbers. Look at the two senior semis and compare to other counties where hammerings were meted out.

If anything, you'd be better off cutting the teams in each grade to 6 than raising it to 10. Top 4 to semis and bottom two to relegation. Everyone would be guaranteed six games. Which is two more than they get now. But you'd lose a bit of the do or die edge.

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 932 - 06/10/2025 10:19:06    2638622

Link

Replying To Carlowgeal:  "Conveniently called off ???, who exactly was is convenient for ?, certainly not the Btown or Pal chaps who were fully warmed up, wound up and ready to go, not for their mentors, not for all the stand who had paid in to see the game, not for the county board who now have the headache to find a suitable refixture. Imo it was convenient for nobody. I don't think there is a smoking gun or conspiracy theory here. It was the weather which was dreafull and getting worse by the minute and the ref made the call on his opinion the second match would be unsafe."
Weather was dreadful for the first game also. If you think it wasn't a farce for all teams involved and how it was handled then I don't know what to tell you. And I don't think there would be much sympathy for the county board anywhere. You clearly are involved in it. Another farce with the underage hurling yesterday but I'm sure that has a logic behind it too. Maybe you can explain that too.

DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 06/10/2025 22:02:33    2638759

Link

Replying To Onion Breath:  "Fair point. I think Fenagh would win intermediate with a bit to spare if they had been in it this year though.

I think the 8 in senior now are the strongest 8 and then there's a gap. Based on what I've seen I couldn't see tullow, Grange or Ballon getting a win or draw next year. In this years senior all 8 picked up points or a point, that might have been a win, in Tinryland's case."
Agreed mostly but I think Ballon are very very underrated and if they stayed up next year could stay up for a long time with those young chaps. Imagine a senior with Ballon and no Eire Og ? Unfathomable that it could be a reality.

DolmenDave (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 06/10/2025 22:06:03    2638760

Link

Replying To DolmenDave:  "Weather was dreadful for the first game also. If you think it wasn't a farce for all teams involved and how it was handled then I don't know what to tell you. And I don't think there would be much sympathy for the county board anywhere. You clearly are involved in it. Another farce with the underage hurling yesterday but I'm sure that has a logic behind it too. Maybe you can explain that too."
Hate to disappoint you when i tell that I clearly have no involvement whatsoever except from sitting in the stand to watch the games, so wrong again Dave. Games are only called off due to weather when it's deemed unsafe. It's the ref made the call. Was it a farce that the game was called off or that the first game went ahead in your opinion l, tell us how you would have handled all ?. As regards the logic on the hurling I am sorry to say I don't know what happened or even what your are talking about. Safe to say im clearly not involved in hurling, sorry.

Carlowgeal (Carlow) - Posts: 6 - 07/10/2025 17:25:34    2638865

Link

Heart breaking stuff at this relegation final. Blues down to 12 now. Going down to junior b and I don't even think that's rock bottom. Sad sad stuff.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 29 - 08/10/2025 20:33:33    2638994

Link

Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Heart breaking stuff at this relegation final. Blues down to 12 now. Going down to junior b and I don't even think that's rock bottom. Sad sad stuff."
What happened in the game that brought them to 12?

more4me (Carlow) - Posts: 119 - 09/10/2025 07:01:03    2639013

Link

Replying To DolmenDave:  "Weather was dreadful for the first game also. If you think it wasn't a farce for all teams involved and how it was handled then I don't know what to tell you. And I don't think there would be much sympathy for the county board anywhere. You clearly are involved in it. Another farce with the underage hurling yesterday but I'm sure that has a logic behind it too. Maybe you can explain that too."
Why don't you tell us the big conspiracy that's going on? Youkeep posting on here that the county board is doing this and that and its a farce but what exactly have the county board done? Not trying to be smart just genuinely curious

CRTW (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 09/10/2025 08:47:01    2639020

Link

Replying To CRTW:  "Why don't you tell us the big conspiracy that's going on? Youkeep posting on here that the county board is doing this and that and its a farce but what exactly have the county board done? Not trying to be smart just genuinely curious"
Well I was in the stand from the first game and chatting to the lads after the game the pitch was perfectly playable. The 'pitch inspection' happened for the 2 mins at half time of extra time. It constituted a quick walk to the score board goal mouth and the 14 yard line at that end. The Bagenalstown mentors walked the pitch with the ref at the end of the first game and he was pointing out 'water' lying on the surface that no one else could see. After being on the pitch afterwards it was still solid under foot and had held up perfectly. The rain had stopped by the end of the first game. Very much seemed like a decision based on other games coming up over the weekend and saving the pitch. If the pitch was unsafe the first game shouldn't have been allowed go to extra time. Simple as.

benchtoaster (Carlow) - Posts: 49 - 09/10/2025 10:17:34    2639034

Link

Replying To benchtoaster:  "Well I was in the stand from the first game and chatting to the lads after the game the pitch was perfectly playable. The 'pitch inspection' happened for the 2 mins at half time of extra time. It constituted a quick walk to the score board goal mouth and the 14 yard line at that end. The Bagenalstown mentors walked the pitch with the ref at the end of the first game and he was pointing out 'water' lying on the surface that no one else could see. After being on the pitch afterwards it was still solid under foot and had held up perfectly. The rain had stopped by the end of the first game. Very much seemed like a decision based on other games coming up over the weekend and saving the pitch. If the pitch was unsafe the first game shouldn't have been allowed go to extra time. Simple as."
Even if it was to save the pitch, which can't be proved anyway seeing as the referee had decided the pitch was unplayable so what? Surely adult games take precedent right now as they've a tighter schedule with Leinster championship upcoming. Is it not also possible that a pitch can be playable for one game but a referee could deem it unplayable for a second one? Let's say the second match went ahead and then adult semis had to be cancelled on Saturday or Sunday, we'd probably have the same people on here saying it's a disgrace and farce etc, not sure it's the big conspiracy people are making it out to be on here tbh

CRTW (Carlow) - Posts: 31 - 09/10/2025 15:53:45    2639097

Link

Replying To CRTW:  "Even if it was to save the pitch, which can't be proved anyway seeing as the referee had decided the pitch was unplayable so what? Surely adult games take precedent right now as they've a tighter schedule with Leinster championship upcoming. Is it not also possible that a pitch can be playable for one game but a referee could deem it unplayable for a second one? Let's say the second match went ahead and then adult semis had to be cancelled on Saturday or Sunday, we'd probably have the same people on here saying it's a disgrace and farce etc, not sure it's the big conspiracy people are making it out to be on here tbh"
Well the point was that there was supposedly water on the pitch. So the first game was allowed play extra time in those conditions but it was unsafe for the second game to play at all. It's a fairly simple point.

Also that's a fierce attitude towards the two teams involved and their mentors who were left out warming up on the outside pitch and told 5 mins before their throw in the game was off. If you can't see how that's farcical there's no point continuing this conversation tbh

benchtoaster (Carlow) - Posts: 49 - 10/10/2025 10:30:24    2639187

Link

As underdogs I'd say Bagenalstown would have fancied playing Pal in those conditions. It also puts them at a disadvantage for the refixture next week due to the minor hurling final tonight and it will be 6 weeks since they've played a competitive football game as I think Tinryland gave them a walkover in the final round of the group stage.

In interim, Pal beat Eire Og quite comfortably and have been able to train away focusing on football but it will still be a 4 week gap since their last championship game. Not an ideal scenario for both teams and I presume it's also going to delay U21 championships.

Anyone who looked at the pitch inspection that night could tell it wasn't just the referee that made the decision but no point dwelling on it now.

Some big games coming up this weekend at adult level.

In the intermediate tonight, the 5 day turnaround might suit St Patrick's more than Grange. St Patrick's to win by 4 points.

In the Junior A you'd have to fancy Leighlinbridge and the Cocks to get through but anything is possible for Kilbride at Junior level with Darragh Foley on your side.

Tinryland have been written off going into this relegation game on Sunday which is a dangerous spot for Eire Og to be in. Eire Og haven't done anything in the last two years to warrant being such favourites and if they are below par then they could be heading for the intermediate ranks.

You'd have to favour Rathvilly in the senior semi final replay. They have more scope for long range scores than Bagenalstown. Bagenalstown will need 2 or 3 goals to get over the line and increase the amount of turnovers in order to use their pace to attack quickly. It would be great to see a new team in the final but Rathvilly to win by 5.

ACarlowGael (Carlow) - Posts: 13 - 10/10/2025 11:00:55    2639193

Link

Replying To CarlowJuniorB:  "Heart breaking stuff at this relegation final. Blues down to 12 now. Going down to junior b and I don't even think that's rock bottom. Sad sad stuff."
The decline of O'Hanrahan's is truly shocking. They are one of only 27 clubs to have won the Leinster senior championship. And they have 18 Carlow senior titles. The first in 1890, when they were called simply 'Carlow.'

To lose such history would be appalling. And the club appears to be on a downward spiral and could hurtle out of existence. Not to mention they have a fine set up not far from the centre of Carlow town.

I think the county board needs to step in here, urgently, and come up with some sort of rescue plan for O'Hanrahan's.

Something catastrophic has clearly happened. They were senior 5 years ago!

CARPS (Carlow) - Posts: 932 - 10/10/2025 11:51:33    2639205

Link

Replying To CARPS:  "The decline of O'Hanrahan's is truly shocking. They are one of only 27 clubs to have won the Leinster senior championship. And they have 18 Carlow senior titles. The first in 1890, when they were called simply 'Carlow.'

To lose such history would be appalling. And the club appears to be on a downward spiral and could hurtle out of existence. Not to mention they have a fine set up not far from the centre of Carlow town.

I think the county board needs to step in here, urgently, and come up with some sort of rescue plan for O'Hanrahan's.

Something catastrophic has clearly happened. They were senior 5 years ago!"
Very sad to see.
I know they've struggled with underage in recent years but they've lots of players who are now playing adult football with EO, Tinryland & Graiguecullen, and with 'ok' management should be good enough to be a good intermediate team.
They weren't an old senior team 5 years ago.

The championship format isnt helping them to their retain 'registered players' either. Leaving the Summer months free of Gaelic and then running the championship off in a 7 week period is a recipe for disaster. Most of their players are playing soccer now, instead of football which they previously did.
A condensed championship doesn't give these players enough time to 'buy into it' and opt for GAA ahead of soccer for the first few weeks of the season.
If we dont play games in the summer months, you can't blame players for opting for rugby/soccer where they have games scheduled for 6/8 months, and not for 4/7 weeks.

The split season came in for the benefit of hurling in the county. In my eyes the soccer & rugby clubs are the biggest beneficiary's from it so far and this will only get worse with the introduction of summer soccer. I'd say the soccer clubs around the county are laughing at Carlow GAA.

Repeat1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 11 - 10/10/2025 12:44:13    2639214

Link

Some of this comes down to the club I suppose and how it structures itself.

However, someone au fait with how it is organised in the Town can come in, but it seems to me the CB should allocate the primary schools to specific clubs for games development for both girls and boys - I'm not sure if this goes on already ? So it is Eire Og, Blues, Asca, CTHC & Setanta.

I suppose in terms of town schools we are talking about Bishop Foley / St Josephs; Scoil Muire; Askea B/GNS; Gaelscoil; Green road NS; Educate together.

Obviously each family / child could opt to go to a different club if they so wished, but IMHO if there is a free-for-all it is not working for the overall benefit of Carlow GAA. I know from connections that in Dublin for instance is how this works and numbers are off the scale up there, albeit GAA is now becoming a middle class pursuit there.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 587 - 10/10/2025 12:50:20    2639215

Link

Replying To CARPS:  "The decline of O'Hanrahan's is truly shocking. They are one of only 27 clubs to have won the Leinster senior championship. And they have 18 Carlow senior titles. The first in 1890, when they were called simply 'Carlow.'

To lose such history would be appalling. And the club appears to be on a downward spiral and could hurtle out of existence. Not to mention they have a fine set up not far from the centre of Carlow town.

I think the county board needs to step in here, urgently, and come up with some sort of rescue plan for O'Hanrahan's.

Something catastrophic has clearly happened. They were senior 5 years ago!"
They were actually a Senior team only 4 years ago. They lost to Ballinabranna in the relegation final in 2021. For a club with that history to have their first team playing Junior B football is a disgrace. I don't know what's going on there. They are light years behind Eire Og & are 3rd in the town behind Asca now. There are good passionate people involved with the Blues & this must be killing them. I have heard of some of their best young players over the last few years joining rival clubs which doesn't help. I suppose now with Pal being almost a town team & picking from parts of Carlow town thats another hugh problem.
Sad to see their demise & hope they can sort themselves out

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 289 - 10/10/2025 13:47:55    2639232

Link