Carlow out to end long wait for promotion

Ask people in Carlow when they last won their opening two league games and confusion reigns.

‘It’s bound to have happened, right?’ was the typical response before a series of scurrying phone calls started. Neighbours, clubmates and local historians were all consulted. It’s 14 years since the 1998/’99 when they beat Longford and, coincidentally, Tipperary only to miss out on promotion by scoring difference.

The curse of Carlow football has always been an inability to put one good performance on the back of another. In 2008 they travelled to Miltown Malbay on the opening day and beat a Clare side fresh from McGrath Cup glory only to be hockeyed by Offaly in the next round, 3-19 to 0-8.