Bennett names Carlow team for trip to Wexford

Fri, 06 Feb, 2026 - 19:17

Pat Bennett has named the Carlow team for Saturday’s Allianz Hurling League game away to Wexford on Saturday evening, throw in 5.45pm.

Mount Leinster Rangers youngster Ruairí Murphy comes in at midfield in place of Colm Beck and he will line out alongside his brother Donagh.

Another Rangers man, and team captain, Chris Nolan is named among the subs after serving a suspension for the opening round win over Down.

Nationalist reporter Kieran Murphy previews the game:

If this was football no doubt a huge number of Carlow GAA folk would travel to the Wexford venue. Yet the hurlers never seem to have the same support with a core following from hurling clubs in the county who travel through thick and thin. They still continue to deliver year in, year out.

At the moment Carlow GAA is going through a resurgent process. Two wins for the footballers so far in the league while the small ball counterparts produced an excellent second half performance to beat Down.

Last season the hurlers retained their Division 1B status and are rewarded with games against some of the top teams in the country. They travel to Wexford on Saturday evening to take on the Model County who have hardly set the league alight so far.

Wexford cannot be firing at the moment. They beat Down by two points (0-27 to 0-25) and over the weekend, they had to rely on a late, late goal from keeper, Mark Fanning, to edge out Antrim in Wexford Park by 1-13 to 1-12. In both games, Simon Roche, scored eight points from placed balls and frees while the entire starting line got on the scoresheet against Down.

Carlow’s win against Down was fashioned on hard work and superior skill levels on a heavy Netwatch Cullen Park pitch. Beforehand, Marty Kavanagh pointed out that in January many of these games will be about hard slogging and overcoming water saturated pitches. He has been proven right as the South East has experienced unprecedented levels of rain. Hopefully by the weekend, there will be an improvement.

For once Kavanagh was not Carlow’s leading scorer in a league game against Down. The honour fell to Donagh Murphy who nailed 1-4 from play. The Rangers man is in a rich vein of form and will need to produce once again.

It will be interesting to see whether new manager, Pat Bennett, will start Paul Doyle and Paddy Boland against Wexford. Trying to nurture young talent by giving a number of young players their chance bore fruition against Down but, regardless of previous results, the home side on Saturday are surely a giant in hiding just waiting to emerge. An unknown Carlow team five days before the game will have their work cut out.

For Carlow GAA folk all roads should lead to Wexford on Saturday. In football there are green shoots sprouting. The hurlers ply their trade at the top level. The Carlow Rising phenomenon which manifested itself nearly eight years ago is threatening to emerge and, in fact, has begun to reappear. It is all to play for.

Wexford v Carlow

Chadwicks Wexford Park,

Saturday, 5.15pm

1. Brian Tracey - Naomh Eoin

2. Niall Bolger - Bagenalstown Gaels

3. Dion Wall - Ballinkillen

4. Conaill Fitzpatrick - Mount Leinster Rangers

5. Fiach O' Toole - Naomh Bríd

6. Kevin McDonald - Mount Leinster Rangers

7. Evan Kealy - Mount Leinster Rangers

8. Fiachra Fitzpatrick - Mount Leinster Rangers

9. Ruairi Murphy - Mount Leinster Rangers