O'Byrne Cup gives Carlow encouragement for League
The Carlow team line up for the O’Byrne Shield Final. Photo: Michael O'Rourke
The O’Byrne Cup and Shield competitions were not played for last year but in 2026 all the pre-season tournaments in both hurling and football returned. Joe Murphy, the Carlow manager, was happy to see them back and when Carlow lost to Offaly in the opening Cup match, they beat Wexford, Laois and Wicklow to win the Shield.
“The competition fulfilled its purposes for us. It is there for a reason. That is to have a look at players, trial new players, see how conditioning is going and the best way to do that is with competitive games. We had three good games. We were happy with how it went and what we got out of it,” said Murphy alluding that an understrength Wicklow challenge in the Shield was disappointing.
Carlow have a nice brand of football where the players are allowed to express themselves.
“All teams at this level need a structure behind them but you still have to let players play football. Sometimes, the best form of defence is attack. When you have the football in your hands, you hold on to it, maintain it and look for something at the end. The players are good footballers. They just need the opportunity and we will certainly give them that.” The Carlow manager concedes that the first match against Antrim away is difficult. A three and a half hour journey to Toomebridge on the northern shores of Lough Neagh.
“It is a baptism of fire. They are probably favourites to go back up. It is some distance to travel as well for both the team and the supporters. It is a good rallying game as well. We know we will have to be at our best. We know we will have to be as resilient as possible,” Murphy says.
He laughs at the suggestion that the nature of the league competition means teams will face banana skins along the way.
“I don’t think Carlow can afford to call any intercounty team a banana skin. There are challenges ahead and we take them on their merit. We will prepare appropriately. Our first focus is obviously on Antrim and we haven’t strayed away from that,” he states.
“It is something to look forward to. It gets the blood flowing in the veins. We are looking forward to it. We know the size of the task but our focus will be on going up there and doing well.” Generally in the run up to the start of the league and championship, managers worry about the availability of players. Murphy says this will not preoccupy him this week. The passing of the father of one of the squad, has cast a shadow on sporting circles throughout the county. Martin Dunphy was a former player with Éire Óg and played in the nineties with Carlow Rugby Club in the glory years when they won five Provincial Towns Cup finals in six years. Wheelchair bound after an accident some years ago, Martin was a regular attendee at Carlow and Éire Óg games particularly when his son, Ross, was playing. The Carlow manager says thoughts are with the Dunphy family.
“Our biggest focus is to rally around Ross and the tragedy in his family. All his colleagues will support him over the coming days. That is what our immediate focus is. There are some things more important than football. After that, we will pull together and head to Antrim.”
Manager: Mark Doran Key Players: Peter Healy is captain and Pat Shivers had a good Dr McKenna Cup campaign.
So far this year: In the pre-season tournament, Antrim shipped heavy defeats to Derry and Donegal Previous History: In 2023, Dominic McEnhill scored 11 points as Antrim beat Carlow in the Tailteann Cup quarter-final at Corrigan Park. Antrim were relegated from Division 3 last year. The sides haven’t met in the league since 2020 when they drew 0-11 to 1-8 in Glenavy. Sean Gannon scored the Carlow goal.
Fixture: Toomebridge, Sunday January 25, 2.00pm.
Manager: Oisin McConville
Key Players: Padraig O’Toole and Mark Jackson will be hard to stop and heavy scorers, even though Jackson is the goalkeeper.
So far this year: They lost to Meath by two points after trailing 2-7 to 0-4 in the O’Byrne Cup.
Previous History: Wicklow beat Carlow by 2-18 to 2-14 in the league last year. In the 2023 Tailteann Cup a late Jonah Dunne point saw Carlow edge out Wicklow after a great second half comeback. The Garden County fielded an under 21 side against Carlow in the O’Byrne Shield final this year.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday, January 31, 6.00pm.
Manager: Niall Fitzgerald took over after the death of Philly Ryan last November.
Key Players: Paddy O’Keeffe, Charlie King and Sean O’Connor are young players who came into the squad this year and played well in the McGrath Cup.
So far this year: They beat Limerick by 0-15 to 0-4 in the McGrath Cup but lost to Cork by 1-16 to 0-10 and made their exit from the competition.
Previous History: The sides played out a draw in the league last season. Four years ago, Carlow shocked a fancied Tipperary side when beating them by 1-12 to 1-10 in the first round of the Tailteann Cup in Carlow.
Fixture: FBD Semple Stadium, Sunday February 15, 2.00pm.
Manager: Ephie Fitzgerald who managed Waterford in 2021-23 returned last August when Paul Shankey stepped down.
Key Players: Familiar names like Brian Looby and Dylan Guiry are back while Brian Lynch and Conor Murray will provide the scoring threat up front.
So far this year: The Decies lost to Kerry and Clare in the McGrath Cup.
Previous History: Carlow hold the upper-hand over their Munster opponents in recent years and this was typified by their 2-15 to 0-12 victory last season in Netwatch Cullen Park.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday February 21, 6.00pm.
Manager: Mike Solan who guided Mayo to under 21 All-Ireland football glory in 2016 is back.
So far this year: They conceded a walk-over to Westmeath in the O’Byrne Cup and lost to Wicklow in the Shield.
Key Players: Dessie Reynolds, Paddy Mollaghan and Mattie Carey would be the most familiar names to Carlow.
Previous History: Carlow beat Longford by 2-20 to 0-13 in the league last season but The Midlanders got their revenge in the Tailteann Cup when Mattie Carey scored 0-15 in their 1-20 to 0-15 win over the Barrowsiders in Tullamore.
Fixture: Glennon Brothers Pearse Park, Sunday March 1, 2.00pm.
Manager: Michael Maher Key Players: Shay Rafter with 1-4 with Joe McGill and Conor O’Donoghue each scoring 1-1 each were on the team which beat Leitrim in the FBD Shield final over the weekend.
So far this year: London shipped a 3-19 to 0-4 defeat to Galway in the FBD League but drew with Sligo. They qualified for the plate final against Leitrim.
Previous History: London beat Tipperary and Wicklow in the league last year and then lost to Carlow by a point in Ruislip. That game is remembered for the events which occurred afterwards which saw the departure of the then Carlow manager, Shane Curran.
Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Saturday March 14, 6.00pm.
Manager: Former Carlow coach, Stephen Poacher is heading the backroom team.
Key Players: Killian Gaffey scored three two-point frees against Galway. Oisin McLoughlin would be a two-point scorer for Leitrim So far this year: Even though Roscommon were short their St Brigid’s and Strokestown players and a few more who were at a wedding, they still were convincing winners by 5-17 to 0-14 over Leitrim in the FBD league. Leitrim rebounded well and against Galway they were in the game for long periods before going down 2-19 to 0-14. London beat them in the Shield final.
Previous History: Leitrim lost all their games in the league last season and Mikey Bambrick scored 2-4 as Carlow beat them 3-18 to 2-18 in the Tailteann Cup in Brewster Park Fixture: Netwatch Cullen Park, Sunday March 22, 1.00pm.
