In a world where we have become conditioned to the top teams reaming off their dry, cold, clichés of obeying the ‘process’, departing Carlow football coach Steven Poacher was a brilliant contradiction, a Jackson Pollock splat of colour across the last three seasons.

Carlow, Laois, and Longford will vote against the proposed second-tier football championship at Special Congress this Saturday.

Sean Powter could see action for the Cork footballers this summer — but only if the county progresses as far as the Super 8s.

It's been a few years since the two of us last spoke and 20 years now since we first met but the wit, wisdom and warmth of John Morrison continued to pop up in conversation and the imagination.

Former Cork manager Larry Tompkins has welcomed proposals to overhaul Gaelic football and claimed that as things stand, the game is close to being “destroyed”.

You can’t say that the GAA isn’t on trend, writes Brendan O’Brien

As has been their habit since the innocent summer of 2011, the Mayo football team hasn’t been short of takers lining up to bury and praise them in recent days.

Tyrone 3-14 Carlow 1-10

Steven Poacher’s Ulster accent has been one of the main backing tracks to the movie reel of the moments that mark Carlow’s progression from anonymous extras to strong supporting actors in Gaelic football this last 12 months.

A lot of folk talk about putting their bodies on the line for their teams. Paul Broderick went and did it, time and again, over the course of a decade and more that delivered little in the way of silver or spotlight.

John Murphy can pinpoint the exact moment the penny dropped.

Carlow coach Steven Poacher has lambasted the criticism aimed at the county’s minors on the back of last week’s defeat to Kildare when they managed just two points in a 14-point Leinster Championship defeat.

One of the most impressive statistics in the Championship season and one that is unlikely to be repeated, was the fact that Carlow did not record a single wide in their Leinster quarter-final win over Kildare, their first over the Lilywhites since 1953.

Here are the main talking points in the GAA world over the weekend.

Carlow 2-14 Kildare 1-10 

Former Down All-Star Marty Clarke has advised his county to draft in Steven Poacher to their management set-up as soon as he becomes available.

Carlow 2-17 Louth 0-12

If the latest row between the Dublin senior football management and RTÉ has confirmed one thing (other than just confirm how much the relationship has soured and how petty it has become), it’s that manager Jim Gavin does indeed watch a lot of inter-county football matches.

Monaghan brought the Carlow odyssey to an end, but only after a mighty scare at Netwatch Cullen Park, where the Ulster men finished strongly for a flattering five points Qualifier win.

What does it say when yet again a match official is unable to take matters into his own hands during a game, asks John Fogarty.

John Murphy is laughing. He knows how physically big this Carlow side can be considered but then he knows they could be bigger if Sean O’Brien had taken a different playing career path.

Darragh Foley doesn’t hold particularly fond memories of his last championship meeting with the Dubs.

Carlow midfielder Brendan Murphy is excited about facing the ‘greatest team he has ever seen’ after Sunday’s win over Wexford qualified them for the Leinstern SFC quarter-final with All-Ireland champions Dublin in a fortnight.

Wexford boss David Power has described the approach of Antrim in Sunday’s league clash in Corrigan Park as “thuggery”.

Eoghan Cormican believes David Power can take Wexford back to Division 3.

Carlow manager Turlough O’Brien has launched a broadside against the proposed second-tier All-Ireland competition, describing it as a “slap in the face” for footballers in weaker counties.

Laois GAA top-brass will meet later this week to begin the search for a fifth county football manager in nine years.

Longford 2-15 Carlow 1-8: Three weeks on from their refusal to bow to pragmatism and shut up shop against Dublin, Longford’s commitment to attractive football finally paid off on Saturday.

Laois gained the expected upper hand in this local derby against Carlow to set up another battle for domestic bragging rights against Kildare in the Leinster quarter-final.

Members of the Clare football management team were remaining tight-lipped last night over the 12-week ban handed down to Colm Collins.

Longford 1-18 Carlow 1-12: Longford full forward Brian Kavanagh kicked six points in a man-of-the-match performance as Longford maintained their unbeaten Division 4 record with a merited win over a plucky Carlow at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday.

Carlow 0-11 Waterford 0-9

Carlow maintained their unbeaten run in Division 4 with a dramatic away win over Waterford at Fraher Field.

Carlow maintained their unbeaten run in Division 4 with a dramatic away win over Waterford at Fraher Field.