The Carlow senior football panel have hit back at their departing management team, saying that it wasn't fair to put their exodus down to 'player-issues.'
Shane Curran and his management team left their role on Wednesday night citing 'player issues.'
In a further statement, it was also referenced how some of the Carlow squad stayed on in London after their league game last weekend, instead of coming home with the rest of the squad.
Some further detail below around the decision of outgoing manager Shane Curran to depart the Carlow Footballers 10 days out from their Championship campaign…
Wasn’t in the county board statement earlier but is in a longer statement from the outgoing management team👇 #GAA https://t.co/YPXFecxmHf pic.twitter.com/oU6w9VyNm7
— Tommy Rooney (@TomasORuanaidh) March 26, 2025
But the Carlow footballers have struck back in a statement that was released today, and addressed to Carlow football supporters.
The Left Wing Back, a GAA social media platform and podcast which is based in the county, was the first to release the statement.
In the statement, they said that 'player issues were not to blame for the departure of the management team...we believe this has been used to question our commitement and dedication,' they said.
The statement also said that their decision to stay on in London after the league game last Sunday 'had been communicated and agreed in advance with the management team.
1 February 2025; Ex Carlow manager Shane Curran during the Allianz Football League Division 4 match between Waterford and Carlow at Fraher Field in Dungarvan, Waterford. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
'We are amateur players and what we do in our personal lives should not be used as a tool to deflect from other issues. For this to be used as a means of disparaging players is distasteful,' they said.
They continue that there were 'persistent concerns with the overall organisation and training environment throughout the league. Players had communicated their frustrations to both the management team and the county board over many weeks.'
Read the statement in full here.
A statement has been released on behalf of the Carlow Senior Football squad pic.twitter.com/CtIWyysiiK
— The Left Wing Back (@TheLeftWingBack) March 28, 2025
'This resulted in a number of players removing themselves from the panel and a selector removing himself from the management team.'
Carlow got off to a decent start in Division Four, drawing with Tipperary first time out before defeating Waterford.
But comprehensive losses to high flyers Wexford and Limerick and a subsequent loss to Wicklow stopped their promotion bid in its tracks.
They rallied with closing wins over Longford and London to finish fourth in the division, giving them some momentum ahead of what was always going to be a tricky assignment in the first round of the Leinster championship, when they take on Meath next weekend.
