By Kevin Regan
The Carlow Junior A Football Championship is as difficult as any championship to win given the fact that most of these teams were Intermediate sides in its older format.
Ballon won this years League beating Eire Og in the final and these two teams meet again in the first round.
So what of each teams prospects this year?
Group 1
Palatine
Manager: John Nolan
Captain: TBA
Key Player: Eoin McMahon
Young Gun: Conor Crowley
Verdict: Pal reached the final in 2014 but could be looking the to opposite direction this year. Relegation Final
Rathvilly
Manager: Tony Bolger
Captain: Jim Bob Leonard
Key Player: Denis Kelly
Young Gun: Robbie Ryan
Verdict: Will probably finish 3rd in the group. Quarter Finalists
Tinryland
Manager: Niall Barrett
Captain: Padraig Delaney
Key Player: Alan Barrett
Young Gun: Rory Doyle
Verdict: Tinryland played some great football in the League and will be looking to carry that form in to championship. Quarter Finalists
St Patricks
Manager: Stephen Murphy
Captain: John Fitzgerald
Key Player: Jack Kennedy
Young Gun: Ben Hade
Verdict: Will progress from the group and into the semi finals
Group 2
Ballon
Manager: Pat Nolan
Captain: Shane Byrne
Key Player: Liam Brennan
Young Gun: Glen Pullen
Verdict: The first game against Eire Og should decide who tops the group and I think Ballon could be going straight back up Intermediate.
Eire Og
Manager: Colm Hayden
Captain: Andrew Byrne
Key Player: Cian Clancy
Young Gun: Lee Moore
Verdict: Will certainly get to a semi final and if they avoid Ballon in that they will be in a county final
St Andrews
Manager: Con Hourihane
Captain: Dessie Dowling
Key Player: Morgan Drea
Young Gun: Conor Murphy
Verdict: Will be hoping for a result against Leighlinbridge to take them away from relegation danger but will most likely end up in the relegation final.
Leighlinbridge
Manager: Anthony Byrne
Captain: Adrian Dermody
Key Player: Val Fleming
Young Gun: Lee Conran
Verdict: It’s crucial that Leighlinbridge beat St Andrews in the first round to take the monkey off their backs and with a bit of momentum a place in the semi finals could well happen this year.
