Bennett: "The standard after half time killed us"

When it was pointed out to the new Carlow manager, Pat Bennett, that this had been a decent Carlow performances he didn’t totally agree.

“I don’t like losing matches to be honest,” was his immediate reaction and explained straightaway where he felt his players could have been a little sharper.

“They know themselves that the standard after half time killed us. I thought we were good in the first half,” Bennett said.

"There were lapses. Time up in the first half and all of a sudden we were two points down going in.

“We were six or seven points down in the first half of the second half and then we went and hurled again. We started to get that bit of belief that we are good enough to win these games.” 

The rules for these tournament games mean you can bring on as many substitutes as you like before and including half time. Teams can bring on up to six substitutes in the second half and that is not including those who have come on earlier.

“You have to realise we made eight or nine subs. That kills a team as well. Sometimes it is not fair on the subs you are bringing in because you are making so many changes. You still want to see so many guys. I have three guys here today who are back in the squad for the first time. They haven’t even trained. They haven’t done anything.” For different reasons, Carlow lined out without several players including Chris Nolan, James Doyle and Paul Doyle. Bennett says there is still a lot to do before the league starts.

“I am still trying to get a squad. We are still a bit behind the curve. Other teams have been back since October. We got back in December. Even at that I still haven’t got a panel yet. I am still at 30. I still couldn’t fill 26 today “Kevin McDonald got back this week and he played the second half. It is about getting lads back. To be honest the lads who are there are giving me everything I have asked them to do. They gave everything and they worked hard. What I like is that we didn’t give away too many goal chances. We were steady and we were clever.” And so it is on to Stradbally and a game against old foes, Laois on Thursday. Bennett is hoping the players will raise their consistency levels.

“The ten minutes after half-time killed us. We had to pick up. We have Laois on Thursday night away. We have that game. It is better than training. We have been training 3-4 weeks and it is nice to get a game today and to get lads in. Different fitness. We didn’t get wet today. It was a dry day and we didn’t get any major injury,” were the closing but positive comments of the Carlow manager.