Carlow's Captain Fantastic says support from the stands urged the team on
Captain Mikey Bambrick and Dara Curran embrace after Carlow were confirmed as Division 4 champions at Croke Park Photo: INPHO/Nick Elliott
Carlow Captain, Mikey Bambrick, is not one for overstating his point. He chooses his words carefully so after he had received the cup he was back down on the Croke Park pitch to absorb the atmosphere with the players, his friends and relatives.
“It is a great feeling. I hadn’t got a clue what I was going to say up there but to see all the Carlow supporters behind you it is great to have such a following. The noise they were making was unreal,” he said.
“You could hear it. Every turnover we made, every block we made they celebrated as if we had scored a goal. It was great having that support. So many people travelled up to it.”
He was bang on the money. Many people who had stayed to see the Division 3 final between Wexford and Down agreed that the Carlow and Longford supporters created more atmosphere in the stand and were sadly missed when they left their seats.
Bambrick says Carlow are as united as they possibly can be.
“It is a very tight team. We always maintained that we wanted to play like a club. That structure, that club mentality. We have driven it in to ourselves.
It has been nip and tuck every time we have played. Longford have had the upper hand the last few times we have played so it is great to get the upper-hand this time.”
Mark Furey understands now that Carlow have made the breakthrough by winning a first ever league title in Croke Park, there is every chance there will be a surge of interest in football in the county. This would manifest itself in a belief that if this team have done what they have done why cannot others come through and go on to even greater things.
“We are the first ones. Hopefully we are not the last,” said Furey.
“I think, and hopefully, we have set a foundation for the lads who come in that there are chances to push on and a chance to win silverware in Carlow. That is what we want. The confidence and you can see it there today, it came out.” An Éire Óg man to his fingertips, Furey has won plenty of silverware with his club. Now he has an O’Byrne Cup Shield memento and a much coveted National League title.
“It means everything. We are as committed as anyone else around. Lads give their whole lives to football. To finally get a reward at the end, everything that went on this time last year. it is unbelievable,” he stated.
Carlow were not overawed by the occasion but Furey did admit they didn’t put the game to bed when the chances arose.
“We made it hard but we got the win, that is the main thing. We have to keep it entertaining,” he joked and said the players were lifted by the support they received.
“The crowd here is unbelievable. It is all Carlow. You wouldn’t think there is anyone else here.”
Lee Moore has been a revelation in his county’s colours this season so far and was one of the leading figures in Carlow’s opening four games which all ended in victory. He played the two games against Longford and London and it was then when the management team decided to freshen things up and the corner back didn’t start.
Midway through the second half of extra-time on Saturday, he got the nod and made his appearance on the Croke Park turf. He says he didn’t spend too much time thinking about where he was. He had a job to do.
“Look, I had watched the whole game. I didn’t feel any nerves. It just happened. We had to see out the game. We had gained a two-point lead. Especially in extra time when legs were heavy. I had to stick to my man after Joe (Murphy) told me I was going on.” He admits he was disappointed not to start but he accepted his fate.
“It is hard on a personal level but Joe (Murphy) has always talked about the 30-34 on the panel we have. We trust each other to go in and out. I was lucky enough to play the first six games. Some lads didn’t make the panel. Some lads didn’t get any game time. Joe makes the decision and we respect that. That comes from the trust we have in lads behind us and that is what helps us to get to the next level.” There was still a last few seconds of drama as Longford kicked into the small square. The ball could have gone anywhere. In this case two Carlow defenders and the keeper held their ground and the ball hopped wide of the right-hand post. Then the crowd started counting down the final seconds.
“It was some relief. I knew with that last kick-out, I knew it was up,” agreed Moore.
