Hard to pick a winner from Junior ‘A Championship
At the Carlow GAA Club football chamionship launch were John McDonald (Carlow GAA Chairman), Daniel McCarthy (General Manager, Talbot Hotel) and Peter McConnon (Carlow GAA Operations Manager) Photo: Pat Ahern
Jack Phelan
Eric McCormack leads a management team which includes John Kavanagh, Brian Hosey and Conor O’Brien
Got to the quarter-final losing to the Fighting Cocks.
A few minors have come in but no-one is gone.
“Trying to win it and get to the next level,” says Jack Phelan.
“Leighlinbridge have always been there getting to a couple of finals.”
“Seems good. When we start playing we will begin to realise if it is good or bad. It is looking good and playing a lot earlier than last year.”
Naomh Eoin on Thursday in Presentation College.
John Phiri is their best known player but collectively they trust each other. A quarter-final place is not beyond them.
Michael O’Brien
Colin O’Toole and Seamus Gray
“We got going towards the end of it. It was good for us to field so early in the year.” Michael O’Brien.
Eoin Nolan played at the start of the year but it looks as if he will not play in championship. Kieran Donald and Matthew O’Brien are young players coming into the panel for the first time.
“We could go close enough We will give it a good rattle.
Naomh Eoin are coming down from intermediate so they won’t be too bad.?
“I don’t really have an opinion on it. It is what it is.” First Game: Saturday. The Training Centre against O’Hanrahans.
They pick from small numbers which means they know each other well. They could make the quarter-finals.
Liam Brennan.
Pakie Fleming
“Terrible,” says Liam Brennan.
“Josh Kearney is home but a few players have left. David Lillis is away.” Hopes for Championship: “Hope to be competitive and be there or thereabouts.” If you don’t win it, who will? Naomh Eoin will be one to watch.
It is great to play in the summer.
Palatine in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
They seem to transform themselves for championship fare but with the first teams of Asca, Kilbride, Naomh Eoin and O’Hanrahans it will be dog eat dog. A semi-final place at best this year.
Diarmaid Deacon
Adam Kenny
“We did well in the group stages but were beaten by Rathvilly in the quarter-final. We were disappointed with that.” Diarmaid Deacon
A few lads such as Tadgh Daly are gone. He has gone to Australia and a few older lads have stepped away. A number of minors have come up such as Ciaran Kavanagh and Aodhan Keogh.
“We want to win it.” If you don’t win it, who will? ‘Leighlinbridge will be very good.” Views on New Structure: I don’t mind it. It is something different. It might hurt the hurling but should help the football.
Asca on Friday in Presentation College Verdict: Even though the hurling is not going well at the moment, it is still the club’s priority where football gets left behind. The club has enough footballing history behind it but they have been slipping in recent years. A semi-final place beckons and maybe after that, they can focus on going further.
Ray Walker
Ber Horohan
“Got to the semi-final before losing to Kilbride by a point. Happy with the form shown by the players,” says Ber Horohan.
There were 4/5 transfers. Lee Walker is the most well-known. He brings leadership qualities to the club.
“When St Mullins pulled out of the football, we were glad to be able to take their place.”
“Leighlinbridge and Rathvilly look strong.”
“It is good for the players. If they pick up niggles the breaks give them a chance to recover.”
Kilbride on Saturday in The Training Centre.
: The club has been on a low for a number of years now. Under Ber Horohan they are working hard but this is going to take time. A place in the knock-out stages would be progress but they are only one result from slipping into the relegation places.
Rathvilly, Eire Og and Palatine make up the eight teams in the junior championship. All three senior clubs have junior ambitions but Rathvilly and Palatine could be the two teams who make it into the semi-finals. Who knows what would happen after that in a championship where fine margins could be the difference between victory and defeat. Rathvilly look the best equipped to go all the way.
Asca vs Naomh Eoin, Presentation College, 7.30pm
Talbot Hotel Carlow Junior 'A' Football Championship
Éire Óg v Rathvilly, Pairc Uí Bhriain, 7.30pm
Leighlinbridge v Palatine, Netwatch Cullen Park, 7.30pm
Kilbride v O’Hanrahans, Training Centre, Fenagh, 7.30pm
