Ireland hero O’Brien backs Carlow’s cause

Ireland and Leinster rugby star Sean O’Brien volunteered his training nous to the Carlow senior footballers after watching them lose out to Longford in the O’Byrne Cup.

The Tullow Tank, who played underage football with Carlow and lined out in a few senior games for the Fighting Cocks, approached Carlow manager Anthony Rainbow about getting involved in the side at the start of the month.

“Sean came in for the first time on Wednesday night when we were playing Athlone IT. He was at the game last Sunday and he expressed an interest,” said former Kildare player Rainbow. “On the Monday he gave us a call and said ‘I’m out for a couple of months and I’d love to get involved in the team’ in any way he can.