Coady: Right not to let Rebels dictate format

Carlow captain Edward Coady believes Central Council were correct not to return Cork to Division 1.

The Mount Leinster Rangers man admitted it brought a smile to his face to beat Ballyboden St Enda’s a day after Central Council narrowly rejected Carlow and Westmeath’s Super 14 Division 1 proposal.

“It was an opportunity to rewrite the league structure, but coming from another point of view was it ever right to re-grade the league?” he said.

“Central Council made the right decision when they didn’t allow Cork to dictate the structure of the league. Cork still got relegated, as did Carlow.

“It’s John Meyler’s second year in charge in 2014 and we would love to back in Division 1B but we only have ourselves to blame.

“When counties were shouting loud about the league there was no reason why Carlow shouldn’t put forward their tuppence worth.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t work out and we have to stop talking about it now and try and get back to Division 1B for 2015.”

Mount Leinster Rangers’ victory over Ballyboden has been widely described as a massive shock.

Oulart-The Ballagh manager Martin Storey insisted he fancied them to upset the odds. Coady never doubted the team. “I think the belief was within ourselves. The wider public and the media thought it was the greatest upset since God knows what. We brought Kilcormac to three or four points last year and they went on to contest an All-Ireland final. We ran Ballyhale close in Carlow too and we knew we were climbing steadily. It was a great win but there’s no silverware to look on at the dinner dance table yet.

“Hopefully, it opens the eyes of people to the progress being made in Carlow hurling. Coming off the back of what happened at Central Council, it was something to smile about and probably has people asking why Carlow are where they are in the league. Hopefully, we’re held in higher esteem now.”

A first senior provincial final faces them on Sunday week, two years since they claimed a Leinster intermediate title on their way to winning an All-Ireland in February 2012.

“We have to deliver when the chance is there. Why wait for another year or two? It’s a bit like the Clare hurlers this year — you have to grab it while it’s there. There are few of us who aren’t spring chickens so now is the time.

“Winning the All-Ireland intermediate was a massive stepping stone and instilled a winning mentality in us.

“We suffered a couple of sucker punch goals early on against Ballyboden but that wasn’t going to affect us. We stuck to our plan.”