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Carlow GAA thread

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Replying To CARPS:  "The hurlers were hammered last week by Leix.

Should we give that up too.

There are plenty of good footballers in Carlow… the problem is organization ."
Cheap comment without substance. Hurlers are in top 11 in Ireland in championship which where we are all judged, and top 14 in league in 2025, fact.
Football is dying, squads are loaded with a few strong clubs to develop players for those clubs. We had employees of county board running the co squads that were also managing their club teams so fairness in selection went out the window, hense these clubs are now dominating under age club competitions.
Duel gaa co players were discouraged other than If from carlow town. Yep, there's no issue playing soccer, rugby and county football, but not hurling and football. So as a consequence half the best footballers are now playing hurling. Most of those lads playing today wouldn't make a decent club team in another county, but that's not their fault!
Carlow can't compete in football picking from a few "superclubs". We need players from every corner, and this takes coaxing and planning..
So the future is extremely bleak, with no quick fix.

Carlowtothecore1 (Carlow) - Posts: 48 - 07/04/2024 20:30:11    2536351

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Replying To carlo:  "Some posters saying it was one of the worst days in recent years, today in my opinion was the worst ever. We weren't beaten by a Dublin, Meath, Kildare or Westmeath, no disrespect but we were hammered by a fellow div 4 team in Wexford. We couldn't do any of the simple things correctly, holding onto the ball, passing, picking up the ball, not pulling the forward to give handy free...we were pitifully. I was never so ashamed & embarrassed for my county. All the time the manager stood on the sideline with his arms folded & no encouragement. He should never have got the job & how he is still there I don't know. He showed a complete lack of respect for Clarke by taking him off with 15 seconds left in the first half. Now I know he was on a yellow but leave it until half time to make the change. Clarke was raging coming off & threw his gloves in disgust... I'm not giving the players a free pass here as they were very poor on the day but the Manager calls the shots & he is useless on the line & I could tell you exactly who will be brought in & at what time. Between today & our underage results for last few years we are very close to becoming the old Kilkenny of Leinster football. Everyone wants to draw us now & it's only a question of how much teams beat us by. Don't like to be negative but can't see a way forward & it's depressing....lowest of the low"
carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 208 - 07/04/2024 18:53:11

You are correct when you say the lowest of the low, however the buck stops with the County board they are responsible for all things that may make Carlow gaa competitive. Underage coaching is the nerve centre and a must for future senior players attached to club and county, unfortunately it is non-existent across the entire county as we all know..

Young lads coming up have nothing to aspire to, to keep them interested and motivated.



To continue playing county senior football is doing more harm than good under the current conditions.



Our county board should put their hand up and apologies for ratifying successive managers and their back-room teams for bringing Carlow football to where it today.



It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Carlow failed to put together a senior team to fulfill the next fixture in two-week time.



For years the Carlow hurlers have been performing at a very high-level year after year, they put in a 5-star performance in 2023 to claim the Mc Donagh cup along with that they won promotion to the topflight to compete against the likes of Galway, and Wexford etc. They took a bit of a thumping against Laois last week and so what if they did, they are entitled to an off day for whatever reason, it's a one off.



PS. No manager can improve the fortunes of Carlow football without firstly installing an underage coaching system irrespective of how much it costs.

supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 3084 - 07/04/2024 20:56:59    2536361

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Replying To supersub15:  "carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 208 - 07/04/2024 18:53:11

You are correct when you say the lowest of the low, however the buck stops with the County board they are responsible for all things that may make Carlow gaa competitive. Underage coaching is the nerve centre and a must for future senior players attached to club and county, unfortunately it is non-existent across the entire county as we all know..

Young lads coming up have nothing to aspire to, to keep them interested and motivated.



To continue playing county senior football is doing more harm than good under the current conditions.



Our county board should put their hand up and apologies for ratifying successive managers and their back-room teams for bringing Carlow football to where it today.



It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Carlow failed to put together a senior team to fulfill the next fixture in two-week time.



For years the Carlow hurlers have been performing at a very high-level year after year, they put in a 5-star performance in 2023 to claim the Mc Donagh cup along with that they won promotion to the topflight to compete against the likes of Galway, and Wexford etc. They took a bit of a thumping against Laois last week and so what if they did, they are entitled to an off day for whatever reason, it's a one off.



PS. No manager can improve the fortunes of Carlow football without firstly installing an underage coaching system irrespective of how much it costs."
Ok a senior manager can't improve the underage system but Jesus give us a manager who seems to actually care & not go through the motions for the pay cheque. I would fear for us in the tailteann cup & we might struggle for a team. I have never seen us as bad. We took beatings before from Meath, laois, Dublin Westmeath etc but nothing like this from another div 4 team. I'm totally at a loss & can't see any good news coming soon. We getting hammered at underage too & as I said previously we are almost the new Kilkenny. Get in someone local who has a passion for the job & a least try....

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 229 - 07/04/2024 21:57:04    2536380

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Hurlers are way outperforming the footballers for a while now.
But unfortunately the senior hurling team is heading the same direction unless some proper resources are put into the underage squads.
Even just a fair share between both would be a start.

Skippy2 (Carlow) - Posts: 69 - 07/04/2024 23:09:17    2536405

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Replying To carlo:  "Ok a senior manager can't improve the underage system but Jesus give us a manager who seems to actually care & not go through the motions for the pay cheque. I would fear for us in the tailteann cup & we might struggle for a team. I have never seen us as bad. We took beatings before from Meath, laois, Dublin Westmeath etc but nothing like this from another div 4 team. I'm totally at a loss & can't see any good news coming soon. We getting hammered at underage too & as I said previously we are almost the new Kilkenny. Get in someone local who has a passion for the job & a least try...."
That wouldn't have happened today under Joe Murphy or poacher.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 295 - 07/04/2024 23:16:09    2536410

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Wasn't at the game, but a huge amount to unpack. Clearly there is uisce faoin talamh in terms of the group, to ship a hiding of this magnitude, IMHO this is no proper reflection of their ability or preparation over the past few months, clearly something has gone wrong over the few weeks, presume the wheels have come off since the league went bust and today we had the implosion? Also this is still a relatively young / inexperienced group to not have two of the most experienced players available is certainly a blow, not to mention their football ability. These are two commodities we have is short supply. None of this is new and we have been here before unfortunately, although the scale of the result against Div 4 peers is not.

Carew will see out whatever games are left in Tallteann, there is a group phase - Lord help us - but looking to next season it will have to be turlough o'Brien if he wants it again, no reasonable outsider will touch it, TOB is the only local who has shown the inclination to take a senior county team. There is the nucleus of a decent side there, but we lack in some positrons and if we are to fair to Carew the lack of a midfield did for us in the league. When we were promoted we had Brendan Murphy and Sean Murphy in their prime at the centre of the field, no disrespect but these have not been replaced., or are there viable options that I am aware of.

A bigger structural issue is player development both at club and county level, but that is for another day.

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 564 - 07/04/2024 23:33:15    2536413

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Replying To Bainisteoir:  "Wasn't at the game, but a huge amount to unpack. Clearly there is uisce faoin talamh in terms of the group, to ship a hiding of this magnitude, IMHO this is no proper reflection of their ability or preparation over the past few months, clearly something has gone wrong over the few weeks, presume the wheels have come off since the league went bust and today we had the implosion? Also this is still a relatively young / inexperienced group to not have two of the most experienced players available is certainly a blow, not to mention their football ability. These are two commodities we have is short supply. None of this is new and we have been here before unfortunately, although the scale of the result against Div 4 peers is not.

Carew will see out whatever games are left in Tallteann, there is a group phase - Lord help us - but looking to next season it will have to be turlough o'Brien if he wants it again, no reasonable outsider will touch it, TOB is the only local who has shown the inclination to take a senior county team. There is the nucleus of a decent side there, but we lack in some positrons and if we are to fair to Carew the lack of a midfield did for us in the league. When we were promoted we had Brendan Murphy and Sean Murphy in their prime at the centre of the field, no disrespect but these have not been replaced., or are there viable options that I am aware of.

A bigger structural issue is player development both at club and county level, but that is for another day."
In all fairness turlo did his best but we didn't see any improvement til he drafted in poacher.

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 295 - 07/04/2024 23:38:39    2536416

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Our underage teams are under funded.

There should never be an occasion where a county board official has better gear that an young aspiring 14 year old. that's the reality, the Carlow CB have been a negative towards the promotion of games, simple as.

TownGael29 (Carlow) - Posts: 27 - 08/04/2024 01:44:20    2536430

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I know I sound like a broken record here, but this is on the county board. Do they care? As long as they can feel the back slaps in their nice shiney gillets they are happy.

We have talented players in Carlow, the same as any other county our size. What we dont have is the attitude, this is what you build at underage in county set ups. You make a chap feel 10 feet tall and by the time he is six feet tall he is ready.

I was on underage panels back in the late 90's and played u21 in the early 00's. I remember the only thing anyone cared about after a game was some lad, kitted head to toe in county gear, making sure the shorts and jerseys were returned. Has anything changed?

Only time someone came in and changed the attitude, and the professionalism, we seen how good our lads are. Poacher brought his standard and the players showed how good they were. Guess who spoiled all that fun? Our wonderful county board again.

TownGael29 (Carlow) - Posts: 27 - 08/04/2024 02:18:07    2536432

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Bainisteoir, our perdormances were poor under turlough when paocher was nt involved

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 472 - 08/04/2024 07:48:49    2536440

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They were well beaten in the end after a poor second half performance but they were promoted at a canter, are the current Joe Mc champions, where with a few more weeks preparation could have turned over Dublin last year. They just ran out of legs in a really competitive all Ireland series game and they're in the top tier of championship. Consistently returning to that level over the years. The footballers have been stuck in div 4 for the 22 of the last 23/24 years and have had one decent championship win over Kildare. Yet the footballers will be first to get their gear, expenses etc.

I'm not anti football but maybe as such a small county we'd be as far on concentrating on the one sport we are competitive in and see how far we can go. Especially given the financial state we are in?!

benchtoaster (Carlow) - Posts: 40 - 08/04/2024 08:17:07    2536444

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Replying To TownGael29:  "I know I sound like a broken record here, but this is on the county board. Do they care? As long as they can feel the back slaps in their nice shiney gillets they are happy.

We have talented players in Carlow, the same as any other county our size. What we dont have is the attitude, this is what you build at underage in county set ups. You make a chap feel 10 feet tall and by the time he is six feet tall he is ready.

I was on underage panels back in the late 90's and played u21 in the early 00's. I remember the only thing anyone cared about after a game was some lad, kitted head to toe in county gear, making sure the shorts and jerseys were returned. Has anything changed?

Only time someone came in and changed the attitude, and the professionalism, we seen how good our lads are. Poacher brought his standard and the players showed how good they were. Guess who spoiled all that fun? Our wonderful county board again."
Question. What level do schools from Carlow play at? Other than Knockbeg College that is.

oneoff (UK) - Posts: 1489 - 08/04/2024 09:04:56    2536452

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Replying To benchtoaster:  "They were well beaten in the end after a poor second half performance but they were promoted at a canter, are the current Joe Mc champions, where with a few more weeks preparation could have turned over Dublin last year. They just ran out of legs in a really competitive all Ireland series game and they're in the top tier of championship. Consistently returning to that level over the years. The footballers have been stuck in div 4 for the 22 of the last 23/24 years and have had one decent championship win over Kildare. Yet the footballers will be first to get their gear, expenses etc.

I'm not anti football but maybe as such a small county we'd be as far on concentrating on the one sport we are competitive in and see how far we can go. Especially given the financial state we are in?!"
your dead right, give all them hurls to the old folks to use as firewood

Stmunnsriver (Wexford) - Posts: 2897 - 08/04/2024 09:39:24    2536462

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Replying To Bimb:  "Bainisteoir, our perdormances were poor under turlough when paocher was nt involved"
I agree on that, and you can go back further when TOB was involved with Rainbow as well. To be fair to the man, the 'modern' manager surrounds him or herself with various coaches and trainers who fill 'gaps' they don't have. Carew has that, but for whatever reason it appears broken now.

I think Poacher works better as a no 2 and gelled well with TOB and the players -it could be a case of getting the band back together? However, they were not without their critics, including some on this Board.

Sport can be a funny business, a few weeks ago we were on a high post the Leitrim result, they eventually go on and get promoted, i see now they are calling for Andy Moran's head ...

Bainisteoir (National) - Posts: 564 - 08/04/2024 10:18:06    2536482

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Referring to the hurlers as top 11/12 is not relevant. If St Mullins or MLR played inter county hurling they'd probably be ranked 15/16, thus is the poor quality of the lower division teams. Yes, they had a great year last year, but are nearly as far off the top teams as the footballers are, and unfortunately the next few weeks will likely prove that.

Repeat1944 (Carlow) - Posts: 9 - 08/04/2024 10:54:39    2536503

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Replying To Repeat1944:  "Referring to the hurlers as top 11/12 is not relevant. If St Mullins or MLR played inter county hurling they'd probably be ranked 15/16, thus is the poor quality of the lower division teams. Yes, they had a great year last year, but are nearly as far off the top teams as the footballers are, and unfortunately the next few weeks will likely prove that."
You aren't as far off the top teams in hurling as you are in football. If the team yesterday had of been playing even a division 2 side you would've been beaten by 40 points or more. If your hurlers played Kilkennys in the morning I'd be very surprised if you lost by 20.

Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 14284 - 08/04/2024 11:19:43    2536516

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Replying To Bainisteoir:  "I agree on that, and you can go back further when TOB was involved with Rainbow as well. To be fair to the man, the 'modern' manager surrounds him or herself with various coaches and trainers who fill 'gaps' they don't have. Carew has that, but for whatever reason it appears broken now.

I think Poacher works better as a no 2 and gelled well with TOB and the players -it could be a case of getting the band back together? However, they were not without their critics, including some on this Board.

Sport can be a funny business, a few weeks ago we were on a high post the Leitrim result, they eventually go on and get promoted, i see now they are calling for Andy Moran's head ..."
Would that band be able create a style of play to suit the current profile of player?

Bimb (Carlow) - Posts: 472 - 08/04/2024 11:29:55    2536521

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There are so many problems it's hard to know where to start, some of us here have been warning of this day for a long time, I'd rather be wrong and see the county going well but we are in a very bad place, there isn't one thing you can point at in Carlow football right now that's going well. Are the best coaches in the county working with our county squads? If not why not? If they are why are we so poor, I'm not trying to down anyone I was involved myself at one stage and seen it first hand, are the county squads just a reflection of our clubs and if that's the case why are they so bad?. Eire og beat the laois champs last year pal beat the wicklow champs the year before its only 5 years since eire og were in a leinster final one they almost won, I would imagine our top 4 senior clubs would hold their own in most counties, so why are we so bad?.
Leitrim has half our population they will play div 3 next year and beat mayo at 20s granted they don't have hurling but even allowing for that they are tiny. Longford beat dublin at minor, how? They are tiny also soccer is fairly strong there too likewise sligo beaten in an under 20 final last year and able to do that with a small population and competing against a strong soccer . These are a few examples of smaller counties doing something, we have nothing to point to at all.

If there isn't a big rethink on where we are going it's conceivable that carlow football will die out

Barrowsider (Carlow) - Posts: 1673 - 08/04/2024 11:48:00    2536526

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Replying To Bimb:  "Would that band be able create a style of play to suit the current profile of player?"
Lads don't forget that when we had the " band" in place they were picking from one of the best groups of players we ever had. It was back boned with players from our leinster minor finalists of 2007 & u21 team of 2010. We don't have players like that at the moment. I would have no objection if the band was put back together( cant be worse than whats there) but we don't have the resources we had back then & any manager will struggle for results. Our underage is the big problem too with very little coming through. Didn't Poacher say after he left Carlow that we had a particularly good team but that there was nothing coming behind it to back up our progress

carlo (Carlow) - Posts: 229 - 08/04/2024 11:50:03    2536529

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Replying To Bimb:  "Bainisteoir, our perdormances were poor under turlough when paocher was nt involved"
We shipped some horrendous hammerings under turlo. Laois destroyed us in the grounds. The match was over at half time and Clare scored 6-26 against us in the grounds also. So turlo is not the answer. But poacher might be. Unfortunately the committee appointed to select a manager the last time decided Carew was a better choice than poacher so how could you have any faith in them.?

Overthebar53 (Carlow) - Posts: 295 - 08/04/2024 14:36:17    2536605

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