Attention turns to All-Ireland series after Leinster success
Carlow celebrate after the final whistle after their Leinster Intermediate Camogie Final win over Laois and now the attention turns to the All-Ireland series Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
One can only imagine what it must have been like when the Carlow team returned to training in the week after they had won the Leinster intermediate camogie championship. All the hard work had paid off and finally the players were able to believe once and for all that they were good enough.
What is more they had to dig deep scoring 1-1 late on to snatch the win. Mikey Mangan, the Carlow manager, acknowledged that his job has been made a little bit easier now.
“It is great. You are trying to tell the girls that they are good enough but when they go out and win something, like a Leinster intermediate championship which they have never won before, that gives them that confidence,” he acknowledged.
To a certain extent the pressure is eased now.
“It makes all the difference. You are trying to tell the players they are brilliant, and they are brilliant, that they should have the confidence and belief. The proof of the pudding is that they have the medal in the back-pocket now. The trophy is there with Niamh Canavan (captain). That does so much more than telling them that they are good enough.” He rejects the suggestion that early season form was disappointing.
“We didn’t hurl that badly in the league. We didn’t hurl consistently enough over 60 minutes. If you go back we lost to Derry by three points and they went on to a league final. We were eight points up against Kerry at half-time but didn’t play well enough in the second half. The Offaly game was a stand-out one where we didn’t play well enough,” he acknowledges.
He agrees that Carlow played well against Westmeath and Dublin in the Leinster intermediate competition. The final against their neighbours was there to be won and Carlow prevailed.
“If you go to the Laois game, we probably didn’t hurl that well but the players worked unbelievably hard in terms of blocking, runs off the shoulder and working back. There was a nervous energy in that final but they found a way to win. That is what being in a final is all about. It is not about playing well and losing. Play badly and win if you can,” stated the Carlow manager.
Mangan’s side play Kerry on Saturday. They have a break then for two weeks before travelling to take on Kildare. Seven days later, they have Down at home. The Carlow manager acknowledges the Kingdom will be a major test.
“Last year we went down there for the last round with a chance of qualification but we were unable to take that chance. In the league Kerry got their winning point in something like the 63rd minute. It is a winnable game but it is not going to be easy. Kerry have experience and know-how. Carlow have to tap into that but that is the joys of intercounty camogie. We, as a management team, have to prepare the players for that.” The Carlow panel, which is small at the best of times, will be short a number of players. Aimee Nolan, who has been in and out of the team because of injury, is fit and ready. Some of the younger players start their Leaving Certificate on June 4th. So be it says Mangan. The Wicklow man knew this would be the case from the very outset.
“That is going to be number one. We wish them all the best and hopefully we have them back later in the championship. Bottom line is that we are ready to go. There is no excuses at our end. Everyone could have excuses. Everyone will have injuries and things to deal with. I am sure, Kerry are the same but we will move on and see how we have got on by half-three on Saturday afternoon.”
