Kavanagh looking to hit the ground running under new manager
Carlow's Conor Kehoe in action against Laois. Photo: Pat Ahern.
A new intercounty season beckons. With due respect to the Walsh Cup and Shield fare it is really only in the league and subsequent championships where players will measure themselves.
Marty Kavanagh came into the Carlow senior set up in 2011. Bar his stint in America he has been a constant ever since. The one thing that does change is management teams. Pat Bennett took over from Tom Mullally in late 2025. The Carlow player says the move has not been disruptive.
“There is a new manager and a few lads on the backroom team who were there last year. It has been an easy transition and there has been a good block of heavy training done now. The players are just looking forward to playing matches now. It all starts now next weekend. Hopefully we can get a good start and we can kick off from there,” the St Mullins man says.
Down are up first in Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday. Carlow will be favourites to win but Kavanagh urges caution.
“You cannot get too comfortable. You are playing the best players from each county. They are all good hurlers and you have to be right at it. You also have to understand it is the last week of January and it won’t be pretty at times. You have to be able to mix it. It is applying the principles of hard running and working for each other. Hopefully that will be enough and we can get over the line,” Carlow’s ace marksman says.
His fellow clubman, James Doyle, is definitely not going to be available at the weekend. Ciaran Whelan of Ballinkillen is almost certain not to play. Kavanagh is not frying his brains on who might be and who might not be available. Loss of a player through injury gives an opportunity to others to show what they are capable of.
“It is probably a week too soon for some players but there is a great array of young talent in the group this season. It is great to see it and looking at them over the last few months, they are well equipped and are ready for it. It is exciting and great for some of the older lads like myself to see that.”
Staying in Division 1B was an achievement. When you consider that both Laois and Westmeath are in Division 2 this season that is some measure of Carlow’s achievement to stay up where they can mix it with the likes of Dublin, Wexford and Clare.
“Our league was excellent. It was very encouraging. It was a positive year and we carried it into the Joe Mc,” says Marty “We had an excellent championship and just let a place in the final slip. It was nothing but our own fault. A new league is starting now and hopefully we can put it right this year.”
Manager: Ronan Sheehan Key Players: Pearse Og Crickard and Marc Fisher would be their best known players.
So far this year: They beat Meath by two points but lost to Wicklow by two points in the Kehoe Cup Previous History: They met in the Joe McDonagh Cup last year with Chris Nolan scoring three goals in a 6-23 to 0-20 rout at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday January 24, 2.30pm.
Manager: Keith Rossiter
Key Players: Lee Chin but Rory O'Connor will miss most of the season due to travelling.
So far this year: They beat Laois away from home by 1-20 to 0-17 but lost to Dublin 2-17 to 1-11 at Oulart The Ballagh in the Walsh Cup and Shield competition.
Previous History: When Carlow and Wexford met in the Leinster championship two years ago at Netwatch Cullen Park Wexford won 2-36 to 1-13.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday February 7, 5.15pm.
Manager: Davy Fitzgerald Key Players: Conal Cunning continues to be an outstanding marksman while Jack McCloskey and Paul Boyle scored the goals in their defeat by Kildare recently.
So far this year: The Northerners lost to Kildare in the Walsh Shield final by 0-17 to 2-10.
Previous History: In the NHL1B group game in Carlow last year a 73rd minute goal gave Antrim a 1-21 to 2-18 draw. The previous year, Carlow were relegated from the Leinster championship in Belfast after Antrim beat them 4-22 to 2-22. That was the day Chris Nolan was controversially sent off as he came out for the second half.
Fixture: Pearse Park Dunloy, Sunday February 22, 1.00pm.
Manager: Brian Lohan Key Players: Mark Rodgers scored 1-11 against Cork in the recent Munster League semi-final. Peter Duggan, Conor Cleary and Rory Hayes are other well-known names.
So far this year: Cork beat them in the Munster League by 1-18 to 0-20.
Previous History: The Banner beat Carlow by 1-27 to 0-14 in the 2020 National Hurling League Division 1B. In 2010 a first half Colin Ryan goal saw Clare edge Carlow by 1-9 to 0-11 in Division 2 at what was then Dr Cullen Park.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday February 28, 6.00pm.
Manager: Brian Dowling Key Players: Jack Sheridan and Gerry Keegan continue to lead the way for the Lily Whites.
So far this year: They beat Antrim in the Walsh Shield by a point and were decent when losing the final 1-20 to 2-13 to Kilkenny in Callan.
Previous History: Kildare beat Carlow by 2-23 to 1-20 in the third round of the 2025 Joe McDonagh Cup at Netwatch Cullen Park.
Fixture: St Conleth’s Park, Sunday March 8, 2.00pm.
Dublin Manager: Niall Ó Ceallacháin Key Players: Donal Burke and Conor Burke continue to exert a major influence while goalkeeper, Sean Brennan, and defender, Paddy Smyth, provide the experience from deep.
So far this year: They lost in the Walsh Cup final on penalties to Galway.
Previous History: Dublin beat Carlow in the Walsh Cup this year and last season in the league the Dubs came out on top in Parnell Park by 2-29 to 3-17.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday March 21, 5.00pm.
