Sunday sees the Michael Lyng Motors Carlow senior Football Championship reach its semi-final stage.
At 3.30pm county champions Eire Og take on Mount Leinster Rangers.
Before that, Bagenalstown Gaels face Rathvilly at 1.30pm in a repeat of their championship game earlier in the season.
Both of those ties will be live on KCLR and Bagenalstown Gaels manager Hamish Beaton spoke to KCLR’s Scoreline on Saturday ahead of his side’s attempt to make the decider.
As ever, Beaton pulled no punches when asked about how he thinks his side will fare in a rare semi-final appearance.
“Rathvilly will probably be the favourites for many people, but we are happy with where we are at as a team.
“We finish well in every game and if we can put a full 60-minute performance together come 1.30pm tomorrow afternoon I feel as though we are in with a good chance. We’re a good team and we hope to show that,” Beaton said.
Rathvilly were the only team to defeat Bagenalstown Gaels in Group 1 of this year’s championship. Pat Ryan’s men have been in imperious form all year and come into this game with an enviable 100% record.
Despite admitting that his team are rightfully considered underdogs, Beaton is adamant that his men will be up for the challenge that is facing them at Netwatch Cullen Park tomorrow.
“Rathvilly will pose a huge challenge for us but it’s a challenge that we are looking forward to.
“We played them in the league stage of the championship, and we were happy with our performance so that has given us confidence going into tomorrow’s game.
“They’re a good side, but we’re a good team too and we will be ready for tomorrow. “
Beaton also reserved specific praise for Bagenalstown Gaels’ supporters, citing their importance throughout the championship.
“Our supporters have been absolutely great all year and I must say that they have really drove us on. I know that they will come out in force tomorrow and that will be hugely beneficial to us as a team.
“You only realise the difference between playing in an empty stadium and a full stadium when the latter is taken away from you and we don’t take our support for granted.”
He went on to mention the importance of the hurling season in getting his side up to the pace as soon as the football championship began.
“We feel as though we have been improving all year. They have trained really well all year and something that has proved useful for us has been the hurling.
“They came back to the football in supreme condition and were super fit. That has helped us a lot and is a major reason why we have been able to maintain a high level of performance throughout the year.”
