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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To Collio:  "Hence why I said 7/8, you would need 15-20 to compete in it. Your points about hurling are correct but also means you can't directly compare the divisions. Bottom half of 1B is Division 3 Football and 2A Division 4."
Im not having a go at Carlow, or Football there Collio. Our club is a dual club that traditionally would be seen as more of a Football club.
Its just that in the time I'm around overall Id think of you as more of a hurling county. But then when I was drinking up around Carlow it wouldve been Bagnalstown, Ballinkillin and Borris mostly. I do know the North of your county would be predominantly Football.
The same gap in hurling between the top 9 or 10 and the next 6 or 7 is definitely opening up in Football too though Nationally. And neither Carlow or Wexford are in either of those groups.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18526 - 24/02/2026 18:20:07    2658431

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Replying To CARPS:  "You're making a claim I hear constantly, but the record doesn't really back it up. And I am saying this as someone who loves Carlow hurling.

In reality, Carlow have actually had more senior success in football than hurling: a Leinster SFC title (1944), an NFL Division 1 final (1954), an All-Ireland Senior B football title (1994), and six Leinster senior club football titles.

In hurling, Carlow have never won a senior Leinster, have one Senior B (1992), plus Joe McDonagh and Christy Ring wins. Good achievements, but all second tier competitions. In a code which, we have to be honest here, the field is far less crowded than in football.

Carlow may be more competitive in hurling in recent years, but historically, senior success tilts toward football. This is just a fact. And the footballers will play in the senior Leinster championship this year, the hurlers will not. We have to be honest."
I still think thats not right. All the Leinster counties who want to enter the Leinster hurling championship should be able to, same as it always used to be.
As regards the history, back in those days Wexford were definitely seen as more of a Football county. That perception only changed around the mid 50s.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 18526 - 24/02/2026 18:23:16    2658433

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Replying To CARPS:  "You're making a claim I hear constantly, but the record doesn't really back it up. And I am saying this as someone who loves Carlow hurling.

In reality, Carlow have actually had more senior success in football than hurling: a Leinster SFC title (1944), an NFL Division 1 final (1954), an All-Ireland Senior B football title (1994), and six Leinster senior club football titles.

In hurling, Carlow have never won a senior Leinster, have one Senior B (1992), plus Joe McDonagh and Christy Ring wins. Good achievements, but all second tier competitions. In a code which, we have to be honest here, the field is far less crowded than in football.

Carlow may be more competitive in hurling in recent years, but historically, senior success tilts toward football. This is just a fact. And the footballers will play in the senior Leinster championship this year, the hurlers will not. We have to be honest."
Historically our footballers last won something in 1944. Since then, very little. One All Irl 'B' in Tullamore about 20 years ago.
The only reason we are playing in Leinster football championship is due to the resistance of counties to ponder a second and third tier in football !!!!
When was the last time we won a first round of the Leinster football ?
Yes, the hurlers have over the past 15 years won trophies and have competed with the BEST in Leinster.
Do you remember Kilkenny coming to NCP and leaving with their tail between their legs after we drew in Leinster McCarthy championship?
Of course you do !
Our hurlers had their worst performance for many a long day last Sunday and i do NOT agree with those who say that playing in Div 2 will help.
It will take an extraordinary few performances to stay in Div 1B, and there is NO doubt about that.

Our hurlers have consistently performed to the best of their ability and we have relied on a small pool over the years and that is the reality. We have had some of the best Carlow hurlers ever and they have given umbelievable service usually in front of about 40 travelling suppprters.
This football team has done well, but lets be honest, it has not lit the division in quite a while.

Joe has brought a confidence and game plan which suits our players and that has to be admired and we are in pole position to go to Div 3.and stay there as well.
I abhor the talk about what hurlers could make the football team and vice versa.
Not too many of our managers have facilitated players wanting to play both codes.

Lets not castigate our hurlers. They have given unbelievable service to the jersey.

The footballers have a long way to go before they match what our hurlers have achieved.

carlowman (Carlow) - Posts: 1895 - 24/02/2026 18:38:19    2658438

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Replying To CARPS:  "You're making a claim I hear constantly, but the record doesn't really back it up. And I am saying this as someone who loves Carlow hurling.

In reality, Carlow have actually had more senior success in football than hurling: a Leinster SFC title (1944), an NFL Division 1 final (1954), an All-Ireland Senior B football title (1994), and six Leinster senior club football titles.

In hurling, Carlow have never won a senior Leinster, have one Senior B (1992), plus Joe McDonagh and Christy Ring wins. Good achievements, but all second tier competitions. In a code which, we have to be honest here, the field is far less crowded than in football.

Carlow may be more competitive in hurling in recent years, but historically, senior success tilts toward football. This is just a fact. And the footballers will play in the senior Leinster championship this year, the hurlers will not. We have to be honest."
The hurlers are a shining example for how to make the most out of a limited pool given they pull mainly from 2 clubs and there's only 6 senior clubs in the county. Pound for pound probably the best hurling county in Ireland if you compared what they achieve Vs the footballers. I prefer football, just what I grew up playing, but have an interest in hurling, the footballers could use a bit of the bottle and stones that the hurlers constantly show.

Maybe the smaller amount of counties who do play hurling lead into this because the gap between the Liam MC teams Vs the Joe Mc teams is huge. Don't think any county is bridging that gap any time soon, it's why the motion to remove the prelim matches for Joe Mc finals teams is bad, just the established counties pulling up the ladder behind them. Give the Joe Mc teams something to play for, because if a county loses three matches and finished fourth in their provincial group the should be rewarded with progressing.

CarlowJuniorB (Clare) - Posts: 112 - 24/02/2026 18:56:11    2658443

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