Carlow's draw against Kilkenny in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship yesterday is one of the most surprising GAA results in recent memory.
While Carlow have made brilliant strides in recent times, not many expected them to seriously challenge the four-time defending provincial champions at Netwatch Cullen Park. Despite coming into this fixture with two defeats, the home side would go on to produce a brilliant performance and secure a draw on the back of a last gasp score from Marty Kavanagh.
This result will spark plenty of belief in Carlow about what could be to come over the next few years. However, despite getting a famous draw, they are still very much in danger of being relegated from the Liam MacCarthy this summer and playing second tier hurling in 2025.
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Ex-Antrim star suggests radical hurling championship change
Carlow have bounced between the top and second tiers of the hurling championship for well over a decade, having won the Joe McDonagh Cup on two occasions since its inception (2018 & 2023).
On that first occasion, they would immediately be relegated in the season that followed. They look in danger of suffering the same fate this time around despite the result against Kilkenny.
When asked on The Saturday Game what the GAA could do to ensure further shock results like this over the coming years, former Antrim star Neil McManus said that expanding the hurling championship to include more teams was a must in order to strengthen the sport in developing counties.
Former Antrim hurler Neil McManus urges the GAA to grow the top tier of hurling to allow teams like Carlow to build on their impressive performances after holding Kilkenny in the Leinster championship. pic.twitter.com/EfcsOYU1b1
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 11, 2024
Removing the trap door (of relegation). 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.
This is certainly an interesting suggestion.
The likes of Carlow, Antrim, and Westmeath have put it up to the more traditional hurling counties on occasion in recent years, although they have often struggled to maintain that level of performance on a consistent basis.
Having the opportunity to play in the top tier without a constant fear of relegation could well help them bring their game to the next level. It is something that the GAA may well look at moving forward.
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