"They are a credit to Carlow"
The Carlow team before their All-Ireland U16B Camogie Championship semi-final win over Kildare Photo: Martin Rowe
“It is a joy to watch them. They are a credit to Carlow,” says Anthony O’Brien, the manager of the Carlow Camogie Under 16 team who play Down in the All-Ireland B Championship Final in Abbotstown on Sunday.
In the group games, they easily accounted for Roscommon, Westmeath and Down to make the semi-final. In the last four, Kildare awaited but Carlow swept the Lily-White challenge aside with a 2-11 to 0-5 win.
The same team won the under 15 All-Ireland last year and they entered the Leinster A championship in 2024 where they played against the likes of Kilkenny, Wexford, Offaly, Meath and Dublin. They beat Wexford but got a rude awakening when Laois beat them well in the Leinster Shield final.
O’Brien, whose club background is Naomh Bríd, says the journey has been a learning curve for the players.
“We weren’t up to the standard on the day against Laois. We have improved 100% since then. Even Kildare told us that our toughness and first touch was far superior than where they were because of where we came from in Leinster A.” The coach says the team have been training twice a week since last December.
“They respect each other. We have no individuals. They are very skilful and their work-rate is 100%,” says the manager who says they are one of the best Carlow teams ever to represent their county.
“We are all equally together. My point of view is that we have a serious bunch of girls. They are a team which we may never see the like of them again.
It is a combination of skill and commitment. They are absolutely committed to the cause. They respect each other. We have no individuals. They are very skilful and their work-rate is 100%.”
