Carlow enter knockout football
Carlow Manager Joe Murphy Photo: INPHO/Grace Halton
After the highs of National Football League Division 4 promotion it didn’t take long for Carlow to experience the other side of the coin when they lost at home to Wicklow in the Leinster championship and then conceded a late, late goal to Antrim in the first round of the Tailteann Cup which went to extra time.
Joe Murphy had the task of trying to lift the players particularly after the nature of the Tailteann Cup loss where they did have victory in their grasp on two occasions but were edged out each time.
“The attitude has been spot on as always. We were very disappointed obviously with how it turned out the last day. We just have to get it out of the system, put it behind us and get ready for next weekend,” said the Carlow manager.
And have Carlow been able to do that?
“I think we have,” said Murphy.
“The disappointment has been shaken off. We still have quite a number of injuries which will go to the eleventh hour. Maybe if lads get back they won’t have much game time.
“At the same time, we think we have a strong, extended panel who can step up. This will test the theory out to see if we have the depth that we believe we have.
There will certainly be a few changes for next weekend and we hope the lads involved will prove themselves up to the challenge.”
Eoghan Ruth sat out the last game. Mikey Bambrick fractured his wrist and was also out. Two big time players who were badly missed against Antrim. Now the injury list has lengthened. The manager says he would rather not speculate on who might be fit and who might not.
“I wouldn’t publicise anything from our end. We still have a week to go. We will see how lads respond to different treatments. You are always hoping for good news but you prepare for lads who might not make the time line.”
Leitrim will be formidable opposition at the weekend. Certainly there won’t be a repeat of the twenty points plus margin when Carlow prevailed in the league. Since then the Westerners beat a fancied Sligo team in Connacht and went out of the provincial competition when Galway edged them by 1-20 to 2-12.
It was always going to be tough against Down in the first round of the Tailteann Cup where the Mourne County won by 1-27 to 0-16.
“Down are an extremely strong team and they were at home as well,” noted Murphy.
“It was always a tough challenge for any team to go to Newry and win. I think Leitrim may have rested some of their front men as well so maybe they had an eye on us.” If Carlow have injury worries then it looks as if Leitrim will be short the influential Barry McNulty who was reported as breaking a bone in his foot against Galway.
So it is D day for one of these teams on Saturday. For the loser their season is over. Murphy would love to put the Antrim and Wicklow disappointments behind him.
“Leitrim is going to be a different challenge up there. They were very good against Galway and gave a good Galway team all they wanted of it. It will not be easy. It will be extremely difficult. All we can do is put our best foot forward, prepare for it and definitely go up and give it a good go.”
