Plucky Carlow vow to return better than ever
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.
They were up against the tournament specialists and a side destined for yet another top four finish. Yet, they gave as good as they got and were within scoring distance of Shannon until that late converted try meant they were left with nothing to cheer them up for the journey home.
Shannon had a lot to do to make it up to their supporters after their heavy defeat across the city at Dooradoyle three weeks earlier but their shortcomings, so exposed by Garryowen, were evident again.
They went into the game confidently expecting not to just win but to also take a bonus point but there was never the slightest chance of that happening.
Coach Mick Galwey knows Shannon won’t retain the title on the evidence of their most recent games. Carlow hadn’t a whole lot more than honest endeavour to offer although they quickly realised that there was no need to be overawed by the opposition.
Out-half Grey Jones landed two penalties in the first half against one by David Delaney for Shannon, who were also reduced to 14 men with the sin- binning of flanker John O’Connor.
Delaney equalised straight from the restart and with Garrett Noonan in fine fettle at number eight in his first match of the season on return from injury, they dominated territorially.
Delaney banged over four more penalties, Jacob replied with two of his own to leave Shannon six points in front going into the closing minutes.
It was then that Shannon fashioned the first and only decent attack of the afternoon and opened the way for an excellent try by right winger Pat O’Connor which Delaney converted from the touchline to bring his personal tally to 20 points.
It was a disappointing finish for Carlow, who must now adjust to life in Division Two after five enjoyable years in the top flight.
It was good to see a team from a relatively unfashionable rugby area make it to the big time and it’s a pity they now drop out again.
But PRO Harold Sothern insisted they will be back: “We’ll do it under our own steam, no money will change hands and a formal announcement to that effect has been made,” he declared.
“We have a reasonably wide catchment area and that’s what we’ll do. In fact, we’re doing it already, David Cox, our captain today, is from Kildare.
"We have solid support for our club. When Young Munster came to Oak Park for our very first Division One game five years ago, 2,500 turned up.
"We had in excess of a thousand for most of our games after that although that did dwindle to 350 or so in more recent times. With the exception of the Limerick clubs, we’d have a better core support than many others and we’ve been to Dublin and played in front of far fewer.
“It seems as if there is extra spirit in the camp since we revealed that it would be an entirely amateur scene from now on.
"If the fella beside you is getting a few bob and you’re not, it is inevitably going to cause problems. Financially, it was a drain on the club and disproportionate and, sure, we are down a few quid but we have no money problems.
“I won’t say it wasn’t good to be up there but this is a club with a lot of tradition and we’ll be back in time. The team you saw today is essentially the same as will line out in Division Two next season. If we play like that, we’ll have nothing to fear and going down for a while might well be good for the club.”
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