FOR ALL THE progress Carlow footballers have made in recent years, Laois remain a riddle they are yet to work out.
Turlough O’Brien’s charges get another chance to solve the puzzle in Portlaoise tomorrow, where a win would carry more impact than just allowing them to fend off an immediate drop back to Division Four.
Victory would all but scrap Laois’ back-to-back promotion hopes, too, and taste sweet given their neighbourhood, but Carlow also have old scores to settle, last year’s in particular.
Laois boss John Sugrue thrice outwitted his opposite number in 2018, including in the Leinster Championship semi-final.
Nevertheless there has been a romance — “an energy”, as Sugrue refers to it — surrounding Carlow’s rise to relative prominence that Gaels countrywide have latched on to. Indeed, it’s a feeling that the Laois manager wants to replicate in his own county.
“Carlow seem to have a very good thing going down there at the moment,” Sugrue tells The42.
“Across the GAA there seems to be great energy towards Carlow and we’re trying to build our own little bit of energy.
“They’re close neighbours of ours and there has been a good rivalry built up between us over the last couple of years, so it’s a case of trying to see who, at this moment in time, has the little bit of a nudge on the other one.”
The O’Moore men enter the league’s final round as one of five teams still in the hunt for a top-two place in Division Three and know a victory over their old foes would put them in a strong position.
Indeed, a win would move them on to 10 points and may even be enough to ensure a second consecutive promotion despite Louth and Westmeath – other contenders – having a game in hand.
And, given the nature of the teams’ rivalry, a victory could also edge Carlow towards the drop, if it were to accompany a win for Offaly against Sligo.
“Carlow are formidable. They only lost by a point to Down last weekend and Down are the form team in the division,” Sugrue adds.
“They’ve beaten Louth and drawn with Westmeath and they’re practically the three top teams in the division.
“[But] the only hope we have [of going up] is by winning this game.
We’ve been very much up and down throughout this league and it’s been quite frustrating in that we haven’t been consistent at all.
“But pretty much every side apart from Sligo has something to play for this weekend. It’s been one of those divisions that has been quite spread out in terms of teams taking points off each other.
“I think there are probably four teams who can realistically eye promotion and two teams battling to see who goes down with Sligo.
“Six out of eight teams still having something to play for means this weekend carries an awful lot of importance across the board.”
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Cork look to be the weakest team going into the Munster Championship this year. I really fear for us. The ground better dry up fast if we’re to have any hope.
Think Tipp will win the AI this year. Only lost to Galway by a point last year and were no where near their best.
Fair play to Limerick for going 10 games unbeaten.
@Munsterman: serious talent on that limerick side. Promising future ahead for limerick hopefully. Always were my second team outside of where im from.
Great win but the best is still to come.
Very hard to predict Tipps championship 15 now. Serious squad
What pissed many of us off was limerick v tipp just after munster v toulon, if the game was played today instead of last night after the munster v toulon game the attendance would have been double, i would have gone to thurles my self today, but no they played the game in thurles on a saturday night, i can not make out weather it was stupid or done on purpose.
@ktsiwot: who’s us? They could have moved the Munster game to today too!!
@Joe Kennedy: The Munster match was watched by millions around the world, I suspect it had more of a pull.
@Munsterman: haha….millions?! There was billions watching the hurling I believe!
@Joe Kennedy: I am from limerick and would have gone to that game if on today, was at thomond for what has an incredible match and atmosphere.
Many I know were in the same situation as well as many I met last night watching the match from both Limerick and Tipp.
They fixed that match last monday, they lost attendance and money, many were discussing it last night and could not get over the stupidity of it.
The majority of people follow all sport and not stuck to a specific mindset.
@Joe Kennedy: yes joe it is a european cup the pop of uk, france and ireland is well over 100 million, it is not stretching it to say a million saw the game. Nearly every one I new saw that match more so than the hurling match which was also brilliant.
@ktsiwot: excuses excuses. I made both comfortably. Even had time to stop in borrisoleigh for a hot chicken roll
@Tadhg Keating: good man Tadhg. Fair play.
@ktsiwot: he said “millions around the world” though!! Three European countries = the World does it?! Doesn’t matter anyway….was just laughing at the exaggeration. I follow all sports myself too by the way. Everyone I knew had no interest in the rugby…..not sure what that’s got to do with anything though!! Finally, as Tadhg said…. you could have made both if you really wanted to anyway no?
@Joe Kennedy: this match was broadcasted all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. I’m not at all exaggerating when I said millions watched it.
@Munsterman: haha… ah come off it!! Throw up your source for your stats there! How do you know how many watched it in those countries?!
@ktsiwot: typical privileged rugby fanboy comment. They could just as easily moved the rugby match to Sunday or even Monday but of course no one can even suggest that. The games clash so it’s the GAA’s fault. End of story.
We will win no All Ireland with Barry fullback. He is a disaster, wrong side of his man all night, no idea how to defend and running around in circles. No one else given a chance at fullback apart from Hamill who we also know is too slow. Puckouts major issue aswell, embarrassing watching last night, not 1 Tipp player able to catch a ball, even standing on their own they stick the Hurley up to knock the ball down instead of catching it. Put your hand up for christ sake and catch the ball.
@Wedger: WHEN I PLAYED hurling no one had the nerve to put their hand up.IT WAS FAR TOO DANGEROUS..
@Michael Heery: me too. Many a finger bone popped out of place from getting a smack catching the ball. Miss that on a freezing sunday morning. Used to love getting bones clicked back into place. Seriously tough game! Tipp have some panel. Hard to look past them come business end of the season.