Victory should be well within Wicklow’s grasp

WICKLOW make the short journey to Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday with plenty of optimism and know a display incorporating the same belief and application as displayed in the defeat to Laois would go a long way towards a win in our neighbours back yard.

Games with Carlow are never straightforward and this will be a very 50-50 game with Carlow not too displeased either at having Wicklow as their guests.

Carlow manager Turlough O’Brien and his players will fancy this one big time, their league win in Aughrim will fuel their self-confidence even further.

O’Brien feels there is little or nothing between the two counties at the moment but he was impressed by the Wicklow efforts against Laois.

Carlow also had a high scoring encounter with Louth where they went down 3-11 to 2-24 that same day in Portlaoise.

In the league encounter back in March Wicklow failed to build on a fine first half display and allowed Carlow dominate the second period with Darragh Foley instrumental and causing all sorts of bother at full forward.

With Tinryland’s Paul Broderick now back to full fitness they have another option in here.

Sean Gannon in midfield is one of the best ball players in Leinster and his partner here Rathvilly’s Brendan Murphy on his day can be a right handful.

Daniel St Ledger and John Murphy form the spine of their defence with the tigerish Benny Kavanagh from Eire Óg the Fighting Cocks Kieran Nolan two good corner men.

It is in the forward line where Carlow feel they may be lacking and if Wicklow can eliminate the basic errors that were too common in the Laois game they could struggle for scores.

Youngster Darren Lunney made his debut against Louth and the Ballinabranna teenager could get another chance.

Rathvilly will supply forwards of the calibre of Brian Murphy, Alan Kelly, JJ Smith and Ed Finnegan and Carlow have plenty of strength in depth for O’Brien to call on.

Wicklow know they let Laois off the hook big time, after allowing Meath escape last year the time has surely come for all the pieces to fall in to place and get the win all the hard work deserves.

The three goals conceded proved the difference at the end of a really good showing.

As always with the concession of goals there will be areas need improving and tightening up close to goal is a must.

No goalkeeper likes to be beaten and you can be sure Robert Lambert can’t wait for the chance to get back out there again.

Is the full back line being left exposed too often by the attack minded half backs?

The experience of Ciaran Hyland and Stephen Kelly will be needed to sort this issue while Paul McLoughlin will see plenty of action if Foley as expected lines up at full forward.

Back from injury are Ross O’Brien and Kevin Murphy while Jamie Snell is also fully recovered and playing really well in the last month.

Chris Murphy started against Laois but is unavailable Saturday so one of these three will fancy a start in the back line with Snell probably coming in to the corner and releasing Aaran Murphy to the half backs.

Anto McLoughlin and Rory Finn will probably get the nod in the middle with Niall Gaffney and Danny Woods also getting game time here against Laois the options are good.

With serious doubts over the two leaders in attack the team will not be finalised until late in the week.

Paul Cunningham who was a real live threat against Laois and looked like he could solve some of the free taking issues has struggled with a hip injury and as a result his training has been curtailed.

John McGrath suffered a hamstring injury last week in training and this could see the Baltinglass man miss out.

After hitting some really good form lately his loss would be a big blow and a real disappointment for the player himself who always shines against Carlow.

Paddy Byrne is always good for a couple of scores and he too will know plenty of the Carlow men while Gary Allen will hope his groin injury won’t prevent his involvement.

The ground is playing a lot faster now and this is suitable to this particular Wicklow team as evidenced by the surge in performance the last two summers.

Fleet footed players like Aaran Murphy, Dean Healy, Darren Hayden, Marc Lennon and subs Patrick O’Connor, John Crowe and Sam Thompson were flying against Laois.

Mark Kenny had his quietest ever Wicklow game but the rivalry he would have built up with these Carlow players over the years will ensure a better display on Saturday.

Free taking also caused some concern but the second half seemed to iron out a lot of these problems.

There is no doubt that even in defeat Wicklow finished in a far better place than they had begun with some fine displays from those introduced to the action and with some injuries and availability snags popping up in the last week the strength of the squad is sure to be tested.

It won’t be easy but if any team deserved a little break of any sort surely it’s this group and management, away draws seem to be the order of the day but Carlow will be the ones with the extra pressure on them on Saturday and this could be where Wicklow can pounce.