Nolan insists Carlow's spirit remains strong despite relegation

When Chris Nolan was nominated as the 2026 Carlow Senior Hurling Captain, he admits he felt honoured. Yet there was a sting in the tail and from incidents arising from a Leinster Senior Hurling Club Championship game with his Mount Leinster Rangers club in 2025, he was given a three-month suspension. As a result he missed the Walsh Cup/Shield competitions and the first game of the NHL1B campaign against Down which was the only game Carlow won.

He eventually got back in and is Carlow’s second highest scorer in the league amassing 1-22 in the remaining league games.

“It was tough missing those but it was great to get back. The league campaign was obviously tough, particularly down in Wexford.

“It is a great honour to be captain but I don’t find that you have to talk. There are plenty of leaders in the dressing room. There are fellas there you have been there for years. Just because I am captain, it doesn’t mean that I have to talk,” he says.

Carlow hurling is in transition this year. The seniors have used 33 players in eight competitive games so far this season.

“We have used possibly our whole squad since the start of the league. That is a good thing in the long run. Pat (Bennett) has given lads their debuts this year. Hopefully that will stand to lads in the championship,” says Nolan.

“We have never been more together even though we have had some tough moments in the league. We stayed together and stuck together. It shows in training where the management and the players are together showing what we believe in. The teamwork is good and hopefully we will push on. We are concentrating on kick-starting our year on Saturday.”

Only a united approach is going to see Carlow progress in what is a devilishly difficult group where they start at home to Laois and finish away to Antrim.

Laois also won all their six league games and gained promotion where they will be swopping places with Carlow in Division 1B.

“Laois and Carlow is a local rivalry,” points out Nolan.

“There is never anything easy. I haven’t seen any of their league matches but they did very well in their group. They are flying it and will be tough. We will give it our all as well. There won’t be much in it.” Nolan scored the winning point for Carlow in the 2023 Joe McDonagh Cup final against Offaly. It was knife-edge stuff all that year. The Carlow skipper says it will be the same this time around.

“We have been here before. Anyone can beat anyone on the day. We love playing in it. There will be shocks. You cannot look past any game. All you can do is look at Laois on Saturday,” the Mount Leinster Ranger’s man confirms.

Manager Pat Bennett said the team will be taking inspiration from the recent success of the county footballers at Croke Park.

“It is great to go to Croke Park, win and get silverware. The hurlers are the same. They want to go to Croke Park. Wins help everybody and it shows you can do it if you put it in. If you want to, go at it. You know damn well no silverware is not won easily.” Dublin clinched Division 1B promotion on March 21 when they beat Carlow which meant the losers were relegated to Division 2 for next year. Time has flown since.

“It is a quick turnaround. You have to focus on championship hurling now. The weather has been good. Pitches have been good and the ball is moving faster.

We are getting bodies back but you lose a few with niggly injuries. That comes with trying to get in game-time and the stuff we are trying to get in now.

Overall, we are happy enough. We are down a couple but it is not too bad.”

This years Joe McDonagh Cup draw has not been kind to Carlow. Two trips up North and a visit to Mullingar which is never easy.

“We have three away. Going away in the Joe Mc, it is hard to win games. We have to go to Ballycran (Down). Going to Westmeath will be hard and we also have to go to Antrim. They are all hard games. You are looking at the home matches and in any championship you have to win your home matches,” said Bennett.

Carlow’s Joe McDonagh Cup Fixtures

Round 1 - Carlow v Laois. Saturday 18 April. Netwatch Cullen Park. 6pm.

Round 2 - Westmeath v Carlow. Saturday 25 April. TEG Cusack Park. 4pm.

Round 3 - Down v Carlow. Saturday 9 May. Ballycran. Time to be confirmed.

Round 4 - Carlow v London. Saturday 16 May. Netwatch Cullen Park. 1pm.

Round 5 - Antrim v Carlow. Sunday 24 May. Corrigan Park. Time to be confirmed.

Final - First placed team v second placed team. Saturday June 6. Croke Park.