Bolger always retained faith that Carlow would find their shooting boots
Carlow selector Chris Bolger is joined by his wife Bláthain and children Cuan and Naoise
Earlier in the league campaign as Carlow put successful back to back results together, back-room man, Chris Bolger predicted that this side was going to put up a big score on someone. This was a signal that the management team truly trusted this team but as the league campaign progressed, the selectors words were beginning to ring hollow.
That is until Sunday when the Carlow performance against Leitrim vindicated Bolger’s optimism.
“What a day to do it, when it meant something and there was something on the line,” agreed Bolger when he was reminded what he had said.
“With this group of lads, I think you are only scratching the surface with them. I don’t think they realised it that they were not maximising it out on their ability. Saving it for the last day is brilliant.”
It has often been said the maturing process can hurt. Carlow have now experienced that first hand.
“A lot of learning over the last few weeks. But you go through that. It could be the making of us. We are delighted to get over the line. It is brilliant.” Bolger recalled the league campaign which delivered so many positives but the negatives kept everyone grounded.
“I think you have to remind people at times. We won four times to get into this position. We did have some bad performances but you own up to those bad performances. For Longford I felt we played well for 50 minutes but we went in an individual way in the last 15 minutes. Against London we tried to finish the game in the first 10 to 15 minutes. That happens,” he recalled.
The ability of this current management team to convince the players that they were good enough was key to getting their season back on track.
“You have to learn from that and this week we tried to get the energy and the positivity back. And being composed and controlled knowing we could produce a big performance. We wanted to enjoy the day. I think that showed in the performance.” Now Carlow have to face old rivals, Longford, who they have met so often over the last number of years.
“This is a game we can win. Enjoy tonight and get back to the field. Say we want to go to Croke Park and enjoy ourselves. When we enjoy ourselves we put in a performance. I think we showed that today. We conceded two goals. We had to stick to the process. You hear that all the time and when you stick to your principles and the process the outcome will look after itself.”
John Phiri’s experience this year is probably a lesson to all aspiring intercounty footballers.
The Askea man plies his trade in the lower reaches of Carlow junior club football. He has been out of football through injury but he has remained patient. On Sunday he got his chance and he took it with both hands. He started and finished the game producing an astonishing performance for someone who hasn’t played even a full game of club football for many months.
“This season is a mad one,” he agreed.
“There is an awful lot going on with different players which people don’t see. The amount of work that has gone in. I was lucky when I was trying to get back the boys pulled the results out of the bag. First four results. Four wins. That was massive. Then for me to be able to come in last week was unbelievable. I just have to say thanks a million to the management and to the boys for the work that they have put in. Absolutely huge.” He may not have played too many games but he still feels the vibes whether it is winning or losing.
“We learned from last week. We probably rushed the game last week. We didn’t take it play by play. This week, it is seventy minutes of football. It is a long time. If you go behind, you do have time and that showed today,” said the Askea teenager who didn’t feel Carlow had secured the victory until the 70 minutes was up.
“To the final whistle I was still screaming and shouting. Trying to keep it organised. You can’t let bad habits creep in. That was what was on my mind.”
Rathvilly’s Liam Gavin is hardly a regular started but he has remained patient in the hope that he would get the nod from the beginning. That came on Sunday and he scored two valuable points in the first half. Both as a player and as a member of the squad you could say he has been through thick and thin. Sunday was vindication for his patience.
“It means everything in fairness. I have been in the last few years. We have been training so hard every year. This year it seems to have clicked and today it clicked and we got our reward. We knew it was in us and to get it on the biggest day, it means a lot.” It would have been all but impossible to ignore the questions which were being asked of the team after the London defeat.
“Massively it hurt. It was creeping in. You wondered are we going to be able to do it. It did drive you on. I would say we were building it into something bigger than it was meant to be. When you break it down, it is a game of football. Look what happened? We got the job done.” And is he looking forward to Croke Park on Saturday” How can you not be? It is massive. I remember those days and going up to see Carlow in 2018. Those are days you do remember and to be able to do it again is something.”
Mark Furey was not surprised Carlow came out on the side of a result which sees them cement their place at the top of the table at the end of the league.
“We were working on building up more consistency. You can see it there today. When we get into our stride we are very hard to beat. When you are trying to make up for a game like last week you can’t take your foot off the pedal. Every game, you have to be at your best. I think throughout the league we were one of the more consistent teams. We have to keep building on that. We will really need it next year in division 3. Looking forward to it,” he said.
Now Longford, who won in Pearse Park in the fifth game, stand in the way of bringing a trophy home to Carlow.
“They really burst our bubble and now we have to go out there now and do ourselves justice. Build on this performance and come back with silverware next week.” John Murphy spoke in a similar vein.
“We just played well today. The shackles were off. That is what we did.
Maybe last week we felt the pressure but today there was no pressure. We just said that if we went behind we would take it play by play. Delighted. Can’t wait to go to Croke Park.”
