Martin Kavanagh says he fears that Carlow hurling will be “non-existent” in years to come if they don’t build on their recent success.
Last year they won Division 2A and the Joe McDonagh Cup and they’ve already retained their top flight League status this year ahead of their historic entry into the Leinster Championship next month.
But with just four senior clubs to draw from, the talent pool is too shallow for their current level to be sustained on a long-term basis.
Star player Kavanagh said: “We’re getting a lot of praise now and that’s grand at the moment because there’s a good group of lads there but in 10 years’ time if something’s not done at underage, Carlow hurling might be non-existent.
“There’s four senior clubs, our corner-back is with Bagnelstown and they’re an intermediate club.
“For now, it seems all good because we’re going so well and our age group would be young enough, we’re lucky enough that way. But I suppose in 10 years’ time it mightn’t look so good so it’s important for the employees of Carlow GAA to really work at the underage which they are doing.
“With us hurling at the highest level it should only want more kids to hurl.”
He added: “Carlow Town, Naomh Brid and Bagnelstown, they’re intermediate and they’d probably be nearly the three biggest places in Carlow.
“There is good work going on at the moment but I suppose their intermediate groups are struggling a small bit at the moment but underage numbers are high so hopefully that’ll keep improving.”
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