Pleased to get a reward out of a closely fought game

Marty Kavanagh, Carlow’s record scorer of all time, has seen it all. Here he was delivering again and looking as content as he has ever been after another late equaling point, this time against Offaly.

“Happy. I think we deserved something to get something out of it. Another day, we could have won by a few points. Another day, Offaly could have won by a few points,” he said.

“Overall, we will take a point as we were a point down. We can go back training now with a point on the board. We could have won. We could have lost it. A few years ago we would have lost it. It is nice to get a result,” he added.

Carlow have Waterford at home next week. The players are looking forward to it.

“It is a great league. Great games to look forward to and it will only improve our lads as well. That is all you want. We will take it game by game so we will focus on Waterford and get the bodies right.” 

Beside Kavanagh stood the younger Jake Doyle who, over the last few years, has settled into the squad nicely.

“Jake is going fierce well in training and in matches he is showing fierce well too,” said Kavanagh who was happy to see the young Bagenalstown Gaels forward score the only three-pointer of the game.

“A great finish today. Look, we see that in training every week and we are delighted for him to get the goal today.” 

Doyle himself was happy to make a contribution but was looking at the overall team contribution.

“It is always nice to come here and get something. Marty said it could have gone either way. It is nice to get on the scoresheet as well. Ah yeah, we will have to focus on Waterford next week, get back into training and go again. That is done and dusted. It is nice to get a (league)point, get on the board and build on that for next week,” the younger player articulated while acknowledging being in Division 1B brings on everyone.

“Loads of competition. That is the good thing as well. Push yourself even harder. It is always a good thing to have competition.”

Pat 'Mosey' Murphy has seen it all with club and county. Yet, as a member of the management team, he continues to stay involved and continues to encourage young hurlers to produce their best. He was delighted Carlow got something out of the game on Saturday.

“We were asking lads to give us heart and they needed to. It was a very cold day. They put in a very good performance. They had to get a draw out of it,” he said.

“They were playing for one-another. They were digging deep and the wind was slightly in our favour in the second half. Overall everyone is happy. A point up here in Tullamore is no mean thing. This is division 1B of the National Hurling League so we are delighted. We are delighted with how the lads are going in training.” If the forwards delivered 1-16, at the other end, a doughty defence also excelled.

“There was a lot of turnovers without giving away frees. The two referees they let it free-flow,” noted Murphy.

“Offaly scored a lot of frees in the first half and we did the same in the second half. It was a good result. We are happy on that. It is building on that and getting the lads to play with a bit more composure.” 

What were Murphy’s thoughts after his fellow clubman scored with that final swish of his hurl.

“It was a fantastic free. A great free. He had a great game. He contributed hugely. He caught balls out of the air,” Murphy said.