By Kevin Regan
It’s hard to believe it but the Carlow Senior Hurling Championship begins in earnest again this weekend.
Amazingly 9 months has passed since St Mullins beat Mount Leinster Rangers to retain their Senior title and already the talk is of a potential 3 in a row.
This year has seen a host of managerial changes as each side has their eyes on the prize at stake.
Here is a run down of each club and how I feel they will get on for the coming year.
Photo: Pat Amond
St Mullins
Manager: PJ Delaney
Key Player: James Doyle
Young Gun: John Murphy
Bookmakers odds: 9/4
St Mullins proved many people wrong in retaining the Senior Hurling title last year, not least the bookmakers who had them as 3/1 outsiders against Mount Leinster Rangers in the county final.
This year they have a new manager in Pj Delaney after Anthony McCormack departed for Young Irelands of Gowran, and by all accounts things seem to be equally as positive in this years camp so far.
Verdict: Champions for the 3rd year in a row
Mount Leinster Rangers
Manager: Eamon Scallan
Key Player: Denis Murphy
Young Gun: Chris Nolan
Bookmakers Odds: 8/13
Rangers were many peoples favourites to regain their crown last year after they lost it in 2014, however they were desperately disappointing in the county final loss to St Mullins. This is Eamon Scallan’s second year in charge and it will be interesting to see if they can take back top honors.
Verdict: Semi Finals
Naomh Eoin
Manager: Eamonn Phelan
Key Player: John Michael Nolan
Young Gun: Eoin Redmond
Bookmakers Odds: 15/2
Naomh Eoin have been going well under new manager Eamonn Phelan this year and reached the Kilkenny league final only to miss out by a point against Barrow Rangers in the decider. They defeated MLR on the way to that final and are expected to challenge strongly for top honours this season.
Verdict: County Finalists
Naomh Brid
Manager: Darren Kavanagh
Key Player: James Kane
Young Gun: John Murphy
Naomh Brid went unbeaten in the Kilkenny league, but had to give a walkover to Mount Leinster Rangers in the quarter-finals due to a fixture clash with Old Leighlin. Since then Johnny Nevin has departed as manager and club stalwart Darren Kavanagh has taken up the reigns with Mark Brennan coming in as player/trainer.
Verdict: Surprise packets that could be set for a semi final place.
Bookmakers Odds: 25/1
Erin’s Own
Manager: Eamon Kennedy
Key Player: Alan Corcoran
Young Gun: Andrew Casey
Bookmakers Odds: 11/1
The Bagenalstown side won Division 2 of the Leinster League in some style this year, defeating Bray Emmetts in the final. The appointment of Eamon Kennedy has gone down well with the players, but similar to Galway Senior hurlers you never know what to expect from them.
Verdict: Their opening game with Naomh Brid will tell a lot, but they may just miss out on a semi final spot
Ballinkillen
Manager: Jimmy Meaney
Key Player: Micháel Ryan
Young Gun: Sean Brennan
Bookmakers Odds: 11/1
Ballinkillen are a very depleted side this year. David English is overseas, Daryl Roberts is in the UK and it remains to be seen if Craig Wall will play a part after recently being recruited to the army. These are lads that you simply can’t be without and it’s hard to see them making a semi final as a result of it.
