Carlow champions to play in front of national audience

Now the celebrations after Cathal Coughlan’s wonderful title winning point have died down, Old Leighlin must turn their attention to their Leinster Campaign as they look to do something that they haven’t managed after their successes in Carlow this century, and that’s win a game in the provincial championship.

Their last three Leinster campaigns have ended after one game – against Rhode in 2010, Athy in 2011 and St Lomans in 2013.

Things are unlikely to get much easier against Laois champions Portarlington in a game that will be shown live on RTÉ television on Saturday evening at 6.15pm.

Unlike those last three venture outside of the Carlow Championship, Old Leighlin do at least have the supposed advantage of playing in Netwatch Cullen Park.

Five Laois Championships in six years means that Portarlington know the make up of the Leinster Championship better than Old Leighlin but they needed a replay to get past Courtwood and will arrive in Carlow just a week after lifting that title.

A number of the Old Leighlin players were also on duty last weekend for the Naomh Bríd hurlers but there is reason why Brian Lonergan’s team should not have real crack at this.

The pressure of lifting a Carlow title is now and in some ways, it can see be seen that the team is in bonus territory but they have the players to cause Portarlington serious problems.

The Bambricks, Aaron Amond, Ian Atkinson, Tadhg O’Neill, and others, are all well capable of playing at this level and they should relish the chance to cause an upset live on television.

There will be another Old Leighlin man involved in the competition as well. A week after narrowly losing with the Old Leighlin ladies in the LGFA first round, Barry Hayes will send out his Baltinglass side to take on Athy in Aughrim on Sunday afternoon. Baltinglass will be underdogs but it’s Athy’s first Leinster campaign in 14 years so they will be hoping for an upset there too.

On Saturday afternoon, Grange look set to have a difficult tie in the Leinster Intermediate Championship against Kildare champions Sallins in Cedral St Conleths Park.

Requiring a replay to get over Ballon means that Grange will be out again just six days after the monumental effort needed to win a county final, and the emotional drain of the celebrations afterwards.

The Kildare champions have gone on to win the Leinster Championship at intermediate level in each of the last two years and it could be argued that Sallins are stronger than either of Allenwood or Caragh were for their successes given that they won every one of their championship games in Kildare by ten points or more.

Fighting Cocks have received a bye through the first round of the Junior Championship and they will play in the quarter-finals on 15 November against whoever wins this weekend’s game between Clann na nGael of Meath and Kilkenny’s Glenmore in Navan.