Carlow proving sceptics wrong

THERE’S a YouTube video doing the rounds featuring a Limerick-supporting Hitler in his bunker, castigating his minions on receiving word of a challenge match defeat by Carlow.

“Carlow!” he rages. “F***ing Carlow – do they even play hurling in Carlow?”

Last Sunday, in round four of the National Hurling League, Carlow defeated Wexford by three points and move up to challenge Clare (whom they meet this Sunday) for the top spot in Division Two.

So, who’s laughing now?

Certainly not Carlow county PRO David O’Brien, a man well familiar with the work being done.

“I’ve seen it, it’s actually very funny, but it’s also insulting to Carlow hurling. There’s a great amount of self-belief in Carlow at the moment, that we can achieve, we can compete. We’ll be competing in the Liam MacCarthy this year, and we’re all delighted with that; we felt our achievement in winning the Christy Ring twice in the last three years warranted that at least, and looking to the future, it will only improve our hurling.

“The day of the bigger counties taking Carlow for granted are gone. We probably worked every bit as hard in winning the Christy Ring last year as Kilkenny did in winning the Liam MacCarthy. The players are treating this so professionally, they’re giving it their all; our preparation is the same as any of the top teams, our goals are the same, and we’re getting there. The experience gained in the last three years, the hard work done since – we’re reaping the benefits of having a good manager, good players, a good set-up.”

That manager is Waterford native Kevin Ryan – ironically, a selector with current under-pressure Limerick manager Justin McCarthy, when McCarthy was with Waterford. He too has seen that video, and he too feels that those behind it can’t have too deep a knowledge of hurling.

“Too many people take the second division for granted, but you look at ourselves, Laois, Kildare – people have been working very hard, pushing very hard, and a result like this is a great reward for the hurling public in Carlow.

“The likes of Clare and Wexford – they’re going to have to work very hard to beat the other teams in this division. Under the old system, the top 12 teams in the first division, you were never going to develop hurling in the weaker counties. But this (eight teams each in the first and second divisions) is the ideal setup.

“I can understand the comments of Mike Mac after Clare were relegated last year (the then Clare manager claimed they would field a B team). To be competing up among the top teams, you can only improve, but someone has to be down in division 2 also.

“Unless teams like Carlow get to play against the likes of Clare and Wexford, we’re never going to improve; if teams feel they shouldn’t be down here, well, let their results prove it. It’s not easy.” Wexford and Limerick can testify to that – Clare, be warned.