We caught up with the Carlow football captain before the Division 4 league opener against this weekend.
It is the first home tie of the campaign with Netwatch Cullen Park to play hosts to other games against Waterford, Leitrim, and Wexford. While away fixtures are scheduled against Tipperary, Cavan, and Sligo. Darragh is excited to get proceedings started tomorrow night, speaking to scoreline he said ;
“The lads are really looking forward to getting a full league campaign. What better way to start it than under lights in Netwatch Cullen Park”
We all know about Carlow’s promotion from Division 4 back in 2018, which was the county’s first promotion in 33 years. Many players credited that time as their favorite time in the jersey. Recently we caught up with Jordan Morrissey earlier this year and he mentioned that the league was crucial to counties development, exposing the virtues of that fabulous season. it is a sentiment that Darragh also shares;
“The league is massive, if we want to get Carlow up to a higher standard we have to progress throughout the league. We are in Division 4 for a reason, so we have to do our best to get out of that.”
“We just want to start off with a win, start building momentum, and gain promotion, that is the aim.”
“A lot of (new) lads are coming in and they’re new to it and that brings a great freshness. They have no fear of anyone. They just want to play football and attack which is really really really exciting.”
There may be some worry amongst fans that Carlow may be coming into this game undercooked because their second O’Byrne Cup game with Westmeath was canceled, while they were under strength for the defeat to Kildare. Darragh was happy to allay any fear that the side may not be prepared, saying;
“We have had a couple of practice matches over the last few weeks, with a lot of lads involved in the Sigerson Cup. There is an element of coming into a little bit of the unknown but we have a lot of young lads coming through as well.”
Looking ahead to the game, Foley is expecting a battle under the lights from the traveling side ;
“London is always a tough game. They really like to come to Netwatch which we will have to make right. We are under no illusion it will be a tough game, we do not really know how many players they have or who they may have. if we take the game to London we should come out of the right side of the game.”
Carlow GAA advising there will be no cash sales at the gates and all tickets must be prepurchased beforehand. Don’t fret, if you cannot make it to the game, KCLR will be bringing you all the coverage from 7 pm with thanks to Dan Morrissey & Company.
