History beckons once more for Joe Murphy’s Eire Og side as they find themselves two games away from a fifth consecutive Carlow Senior Football Championship county title.
They go into Sunday’s game as clear favourites, and nothing less than victory will be acceptable for a group of players that have made winning a second nature exercise since 2017.
That favourites tag can have an adverse effect on a team like Eire Og but that is not something that Murphy was worried about when he spoke to KCLR’s Scoreline on Saturday.
“I don’t think there will be any pressure on our players.
“We just look at it as the next game of defending the county championship and the players have prepared very well all year for the championship. I don’t think pressure is a factor at all for us if I’m being honest,” Murphy said.
The hugely successful Murphy guided his club to the biggest prize in Carlow football yet again last season and gave an insight into how Eire Og have become the envy of every club in the county.
“Right down through the club the last number of years have been really good for everyone involved.
“We surprisingly won the minor championship last year and the intermediate team won the county championship this year.
“The club as a whole are happy with how we’re developing, and we’ll keep working hard to make sure that it stays going in this direction. It’s just a case of coordination and structure across the club.”
Murphy also dispelled any myths of complacency that have arose due to their unparalleled dominance since 2017.
“We have a lot of young players coming through the ranks so if you’re complacent you are going to be left behind and lose your place in the team.
“It’s not the place to be if you want to be complacent and that is acknowledged throughout the entire panel. There’s real hunger and intensity about everything we do.”
He credited Mount Leinster Rangers for their achievements in both football and hurling as well, exclaiming that they will pose a serious challenge to his team’s hopes of retaining their crown.
“Mount Leinster Rangers are a magnificent club. What they have done in both codes over the last number of years has been absolutely unbelievable.
“In terms of their football team, they provide such a difficult challenge, and we won’t take our eye off the ball. It will be a big contest and we’re going to have to dig really deep to get a win tomorrow.”
