We kick off the 2022 Carlow Senior Football Championship with Bagenalstown Gaels and Eire Og tonight live on KCLR from 7 pm.
Bagenalstown may be going into this game as underdogs, with the image of Eire Og lifting the county championship on the steps of Netwatch Cullen Park being a very familiar sight for fans. One image burnt into the mind of Eire Og fans though will be Rathvilly hoisting the cup over their head, stopping the drive for five.
Both opponents will have something in common, and that is falling to Pat Ryan lead Rathvilly both in the semi-final and final respectively. The semi-final loss evidently plays on the mind of Bagenalstown Gaels and speaking with Ciaran Cunningham, he was adamant they will not take a moral victory by just getting to that stage again this year;
“We are really looking forward to it. Trying to build on last year, we got to a semi-final and looking to go one step better and make it to the final.”
“We are only senior since 2017, so we are looking to improve. That was our second semi-final, and we definitely won’t be happy with that this year. We want to get to a final and obviously try and win it.”
See also: Tinrylands Shane Redmond looks ahead to the start of the Carlow Senior Football Championship
On the hurling side of things, Bagenalstown Gaels managed to slay the giant that is Mount Leinster Rangers in the Senior Hurling semis, much to the shock of everyone not from Bagenalstown. However, the victory did not seem to surprise those within the community and that self-belief seems to extend to the football side of things. Cunningham continued with;
“Everyone wants to play at the top level. The more games you get under your belt over the years, the whole town starts to believe that you can thrive at the highest level.”
“It is a marathon, not a sprint. Obviously, Eire Og always brings a tough challenge. Win or lose we will be looking beyond that game, to build further into the championship. Of course, it will be great to get the win over Eire Og, but long term we are looking to make a final.”
All games in the Carlow Senior Football Championship will be brought to you with thanks to Dan Morrissey and Co.
