Plucky Carlow vow to return better than ever

IT was hard not to feel sorry for Co Carlow at Thomond Park on Saturday when a late Shannon try, giving them a 25-12 win, deprived the Leinster side even a bonus point in their third-last match in Division One of the AIB All-Ireland League.

Carlow knew they were doomed before they travelled to Limerick but a recent announcement that they intend to field an all-amateur, largely local team from next season onwards seemed to infuse the side with a new found spirit.

They have been rooted to the bottom of the table throughout an unrewarding campaign and have lost all their 12 matches.