“WILLIE, CARLOW AND the Dubs, Sky television, the whole shebang, where would you get it?”
Local radio commentator Brendan Hennessy couldn’t conceal his delight at Netwatch Cullen Park yesterday.
Carlow achieved a landmark win over Wexford as they ended their provincial losing streak that has stretched back to 2011 and propelled themselves into a last eight meeting with the reigning champions Dublin.
Hennessy and former Carlow footballer Willie Quinlan were on commentary duty for KCLR96 FM, their joy in the closing stages easy to detect.
‘They’ll enjoy this one from Askea to Adelaide and from Ballon to Bangkok,” roared Hennessy at the final whistle.
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KCLR96fm / SoundCloud
Since they upset Louth at the quarter-final stage six years ago, Carlow have suffered some bad days in Leinster.
They lost out to Meath (15 points) in 2012, Westmeath (11 points) in 2013, Meath (28 points) in 2014, Laois (17 points) in 2015 and Louth (1o points) in 2016.
Yet that trend was reversed to achieve a major breakthrough.
“You saw a great game of football here today, you saw what it meant to Carlow, what it meant to Wexford,” remarked an ebullient Carlow boss Turlough O’Brien to RTÉ’s The Sunday Game last night.
“We matter as much as Dublin and Kerry and Tyrone and Donegal and we want to be in the All-Ireland championship.
“And we’re not going to die down against Dublin, I can guarantee you that. We’ve been in a famine for a long time.
Benji O'Brien celebrates after the game with Shane Clarke
Carlow players savoured success
The late goalscoring hero Brendan Murphy
A clash with Dublin beckons for Carlow's victorious side
Alan Kelly and Gary Kelly celebrate after the game
Sean Gannon and Sean Murphy savour that winning feeling
John Murphy after the game with his uncle Arthur and Mark Rennick
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Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">
Source: Tommy Dickson/INPHO" title="">“A lot of our team today are soldiering for Carlow for the last ten years or so, very loyal to Carlow. They’ve had a lot of bad days in the jersey.
“In the last three years I suppose we’ve regrouped and we’ve got a very good response from all across the county.
“There was a good feeling for Carlow in the last two or three weeks. People could sense that something was happening. We’re very proud of them.”
The task ahead of them on 3 June in Portlaoise is clearly daunting, facing a Dublin team that are bidding to string together seven successive Leinster crowns this year.
“Obviously it’s a massive occasion for us now to play the All-Ireland champions,” stated O’Brien.
“We’re really looking forward to it. Being realistic about it, no one’s going to give us a chance. There’s no pressure on Carlow.
“We’ll try to make it as difficult as we can for Dublin for as long as we can.”
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