Carlow Intermediate Camogie manager Mark Brennan says that staying competitive is the main aim for 2018.
Speaking to KCLR ahead of Sunday’s Division Two League opener away to Cork, Mark is realistic about the challenges that awaits them in the League and Championship.
“To stay competitive I think is the main thing for us. We are under no illusions that we are still kind of the underdogs in all these games, but if we can stay competitive and try to bring up some of these Minor and Under-16 girls that we know that are coming through and just to keep Carlow Camogie in a solid place, then hopefully we can keep building on it little by little.
“Whether that gets us to a finals or semi-finals or trophies who knows, but I think if we can stay competitive then you always have a chance.”
Mark also says the Camogie Associtation need to look at the situation of players trying to combine a hectic schedule of playing Inter-County and 3rd level matches especially in the early part of the calendar year.
“We are trying to give these girls a break and we are trying to train them as best we can and as professional we can, but we are not really putting the proper structures in place to help that, and then from a college point of view, these girls are on scholarships so they have to probably play for their college and they are under pressure there.
“They are been pulled left, right and centre. It’s not an easy process for anybody for either College or County managers and it’s hopefully something that they will look at it because we are shooting ourselves in the foot and we are only going to lead to more girls and lads as well just getting annoyed and asking themselves questions, why am I bothering here?” he said.
