Carlow face three away ties in McDonagh Cup
Carlow captain Paul Doyle lifts the McDonagh Cup in 2023 Photo: ©INPHO/Tom Maher
Carlow’s bid to win back the McDonagh Cup is set to be a difficult task after new manager Pat Bennett and his team were handed three away games in the group stages.
Under Tom Mullally, Carlow won the competition in 2023 with a famous win over Offaly and after relegation from the Leinster Senior Championship the following year, were desperately unlucky not to reach a final again this season when a last gasp Laois goal scuppered their chances.
Mullally has now departed and that ushers in a new era under Waterford man Bennett.
The new manager holds his first on pitch training session with his team this evening (Friday) although the Mount Leinster Rangers contingent have been given some extra time off after their season ran into the Leinster Championship.
There is the Walsh Cup and National League to focus on first but once they are completed, Carlow’s main aim for the season will commence in the McDonagh in mid-April.
They will start next season’s Championship as they finished the last, at home to neighbours Laois.
There are then away games against Westmeath and Down before London are the visitors to Netwatch Cullen Park.
Carlow round off the McDonagh Cup with an away game against Antrim, a team their new manager knows well having spent the last couple of seasons working on Davy Fitzgerald’s management with the Saffrons.
Laois (H), 18-19 April
Westmeath (A), 25-26 April
Down (A), 9-10 May
London (H), 16-17 May
Antrim (A), 23-24 May.
