It's time for the GAA to grow the game of hurling if they want to experience more remarkable days like Carlow’s incredible outing against Kilkenny.
That’s the opinion of former Antrim hurler Neil McManus who wants to see an increase in top-tier teams competing in the Liam MacCarthy Cup.
Tom Mullally’s side came into today’s clash with Kilkenny with no points from their opening two games in their Leinster championship group, despite impressing against Dublin and Galway, however, they secured a historic result at Netwatch Dr Cullen Park by holding their esteemed neighbouring county to a 1-20 to 1-20 draw.
Carlow are only in this year’s top-tier competition as a result of their Joe McDonagh Cup success in 2023, and will again have to contend with the threat of the trapdoor remaining in place, which could see them back in the second-tier competition after the current campaign.
"Removing the trap door," said McManus, speaking on The Saturday Game, when asked how Carlow could build on their impressive outing in the Leinster competition. "We need to give people consistent exposure to the top level.
"We need to grow the game all across the county, but let’s grow our top tier.
"Football has a huge top tier and really and truly we are operating off seven, eight, nine teams in hurling.
"Carlow are trying hard, Antrim are trying hard, Westmeath…there is an opportunity if the GAA gets behind it."
Fellow pundit Anthony Daly was full of praise for Carlow after their performance against Kilkenny and believes that it will instil confidence in the side heading into their final two group games as they look to avoid last place and a dreaded return to Joe McDonagh action in 2025.
"It’s some achievement," said Daly. "Tom Mullally has done some job.
"They have been really competitive in all three games. They got the reward today and they’ll fancy themselves in the final two games."
"They used the extra man so, so well," added McManus. "Kevin McDonnell bursting out of defence, opening up the play, and he encapsulated everything Carlow did today."
As for the Cats, Daly was none too impressed by their level of score-taking and felt that Derek Lyng's side will need to improve drastically going into the business end of the championship.
"The accuracy!" lamented Daly. "51 percent from a Kilkenny point of view, it is nearly impossible to win a Liam MacCarthy match if you’re hitting 17 wides."
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