The group stages of the Carlow Senior Football championship have ended and now we are onto knock out stages
Tinryland and Palatine go straight to the semi-finals
Rathvilly takes on Eire Og in the quarters in a repeat of last year’s county final while Mount Leinster Rangers take on Bagenalstown Gaels next weekend.
Related: Éire Óg and Rathvilly set for senior quarter-final showdown as knockouts decided for all grades
The Championship began on the 19th of August with the league final taking place in early June. In between both was the Carlow Senior Hurling Championship. Speaking on this matter in particular former Carlow manager and current Eire Og boss Turlough O’Brien has called for Carlow GAA to adjust the way football is handled in the county
“It has been a strange year, again this thing of the football league being in February March, and April then we do not play again until the end of the year. It is a crazy way to run a football competition.”
“It is time it is looked at, it is not fair the football clubs are going second again for the third year in a row.”
Related: Maurice Alyward calls for changes to organisation of Carlow hurling league
It comes off the back of St. Mullins manager Maurice Alyward also calling for changes on the hurling side of things. His side can look forward to a provincial clash with Ferns of Wexford, with a very long gap between the county final and Leinster championship.
It will be a hard one for Carlow GAA, last year Pat Ryan’s Rathvilly won the county football championship and a week later their All-Ireland dream was over at the first port of call in the Leinster club senior football championship. The Carlow champions made the trip to Haggardstown where hosts Naomh Mairtin ran out comfortable winners, 2-16 to 1-05 on the day. Speaking to Pat after that game, he was in good enough spirits but did admit it was a tight turnaround;
“The week turnaround was short and it takes some time to recover after some extensive celebrations.”
Listen back to the full interview with Turlough O’Brien on Scoreline Extra below: