'Hopefully this is a stepping stone' - Carlow promoted to Division 3 with Leitrim hammering

6 April 2025; Carlow manager Joe Murphy during the Leinster GAA Football Senior Championship round one match between Meath and Carlow at Pairc Tailteann in Navan, Meath. Photo by Thomas Flinkow/Sportsfile

Carlow confirmed promotion to Division 3 and sealed a place in the Division 4 final in Croke Park next Saturday as they proved far too good for Leitrim, coming through by 4-22 to 2-5 at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday.

After winning their opening four games, they then lost to Longford and London to set up a last match situation where nothing but a win would do.

Carlow manager Joe Murphy confirmed the players had dug deep to turn their season back around.

“We were disappointed with the last couple of games, but when you have adversity, we were confident we could put a performance together,” he said.

Leitrim asked the early questions when they scored two goals through Fergal McLoughlin and Michael McKiernan. Sandwiched in there was a Colm Hulton goal for the home side.

By half-time, Carlow had turned it around when leading by 1-11 to 2-3.

A John Murphy goal for Carlow early in the second half meant The Barrowsiders had all the momentum. It was a far cry from the previous week where nothing went right as London came away with an easier than expected win.

The manager said his side never stopped believing.

“We always felt that way. It came together today and hopefully this is a stepping stone,” Murphy said.

As the second half progressed, Carlow built up a nine-point lead and when Conor Doyle landed a superb two-pointer the game was all but over with 20 minutes still to go.

Even then Murphy refused to contemplate victory as his side kept the pressure going all the way to the end.

“We spoke about if we conceded we couldn’t go back into our shell. You see it out to the end. Your focus is on the game. I didn’t even know the score,”  concluded the winning manager.