Regardless of whether its Hurling or Football you gotta love a Championship clash between Carlow and Laois!
It’s as local as it gets and generally it tends to be a keenly contested fixture with bragging rights at stake.
However bragging rights for supporters is the last thing that the Carlow Senior Hurlers will be focusing on as they make their way to O’Moore Park on Sunday for a clash with the hosts which throws in at 3.30.
The buzz surrounding Carlow GAA is massive at the moment and something which we haven’t seen the likes of for years with both Senior sides doing the county proud.
Carlow were hugely impressive in the Christy Ring Final win over Antrim at Croke Park and they will be hoping that the winning momentum will stand to them on Sunday.
Laois are reported to be struggling with injuries heading into the game, but Carlow Manager Colm Bonnar still sees them as favourites.
Speaking to KCLR, Colm said that Laois have an advantage of playing higher quality opposition.
“They have been tested severely by better teams in terms of who they would have played in the likes of Galway and Limerick and Wexford in the Division 1B League and even against Wexford it was a good game for maybe 40, 45 minutes and they scored 1-17.
“If anything, you learn more when you play better opposition and I think Laois are quietly confident that they will be able to take Carlow because traditionally, they have always been able for them so I am hoping now that we can start well and we can keep with them,” he said.
In contrast to this Laois Senior Hurling manager Eamonn Kelly says that Carlow are clear cut favorites to win the game.
Speaking to KCLR, Eamonn says their injury situation makes their task extremely difficult.
“Well I think the pendalum has probably maybe tipped towards Carlow to win giving the amount of injuries that we have. We have 5 players gone that played in the first round of the round robin.
“Preparations haven’t been ideal, Carlow are a fine side, played exciting hurling in the Christy Ring and they are going to be formidable opposition to us on Sunday.
“Sure they are coming in on the back of a fantastic win and they are coming in with nothing to lose and confidence is high so they are definitely going to be favorites for the weekend,” said Kelly.
I personally think that if Carlow can play to a level around what they produced against Antrim then they will have enough to win the game, however they must stop Hemorrhaging goals, because 4-13 was too big a tally to concede in a game which they were well on top of the last day.
At the time of writing Carlow are 13/8 with the bookmakers and I think they are good value to come up with the goods on the day.
We Have Full Live Commentary of the game on air and on KCLRFANZONE.COM from 3.30pm on Sunday thanks to Flynn’s Carlow Nissan
