Burke to step down after another near miss
Carlwo manager Ed Burke announced that he would be stepping from his position after the defeat Photo: Matt Browne/Sportsfile
Carlow manager Ed Burke was as pragmatic as ever. He took the disappointment of Sunday's All-Ireland Junior semi-final defeat as well as he could suggesting that Louth got that bit of momentum which could so easily have gone his side’s way.
“We were leading the game for 45 minutes. We ran out of a bit of steam. It was one point either way. It was what team could get two points up and their second goal which put them two points up knocked the stuffing out of us.
“I thought we might have got a penalty for the swipe away of the ball after but that is just the way it goes.” The game was there for either side. It was always on a knife edge.
“When you are winning the game for 45 minutes. Every time they got a score we went back ahead. I thought that was going to be the way but it drove them and sapped us.” The intercounty season is over now. Carlow are crushed not to be playing in Croke Park but Burke says his players have reason to be proud of what they have achieved in 2024.
“I said to them inside. Many years you work hard and come away with nothing. We have a league title and are going up a league. They haven’t got to Croke Park but they are not finishing the year empty handed. When you are in Carlow whether it is the men or the ladies, when you come away with a national title you are happy in some sense.
“It was massive. If you had come away with nothing to show you wonder whether you are going to get anything. They are going up to division 3 next year. It is tough.” And would Burke be staying on now?
“He moves on,” was the Carlow manager’s soft reply.
And was it a good experience for him?
“We have been three years on the road. I am delighted with my time in Carlow. “It was positive. Winning a national league title after not being in a final in 30 odd years. To bring home a national title and go up to Division 3 might not have been expected in some quarters. It has been a good three years but sometimes things have to change.
“I know it is tough for them. They have to face junior next year but Division 3 will be an excellent task.”
