Mikey Bambrick optimistic about Carlow's development

Click here to listen to the interview with Mikey Bambrick.

By Cian O'Connell

Mikey Bambrick senses that something is stirring in Carlow again.

With promotion eventually secured, Carlow head for Croke Park heartened on Saturday for a Division Four decider against Longford.

Despite a couple of defeats in round five and six, Carlow responded to defeat Leitrim last weekend to earn a place in Division Three next year. "We got off to a flying start," Bambrick says.

"In fairness, it just goes to show the quality that is in Division Four. Going into the last game, there was only two points between first and sixth or seventh.

"It was always going to be very tight. You were never going to cruise through it."

Bambrick is optimistic about Carlow's development. "I think we've had belief in ourselves now for a long time," he says.

"It is always good to get something at the end of it, to actually have achieved something like getting to Division Three. It is great, the atmosphere and everything is deadly now at the minute, and hopefully we can keep pushing on going into the weekend."

The highly Joe Murphy has connected with the players. "I think everyone that has been in there for the last few years has that belief we can go on to do something," he says.

"I think when Joe came in, and the backroom he has, everyone is from Carlow. I think that has even instilled more belief in us, it has given us that confidence to go on, to do what we're after doing."

So, Bambrick is hopeful about the future. "I think we've always had good buy in from nearly everyone in the county," Bambrick responds.

"If they're available and they're able to play, they're in. When you get a few wins under your belt, it is going to incentivise more lads to come in. The more guys we have in competing, it is only going to improve as we go forward.

"There has been great competitiveness in the squad this year, in particular. It is unreal, compared to the last few years. The more lads we can get in, the better it is going to be for Carlow football as a whole."

Representing Carlow at Croke Park matters deeply to Bambrick. "Big time, you're even hearing about lads organising buses already to go up," he says.

"That is great to hear. Hopefully we can get a great crowd up there on the day. I can still remember going up watching the league final, all those years ago. It is a day you remember, really."

Bambrick is happy to serve the Carlow cause in any role. "You get moved around a small bit, I don't know if that is necessarily a good or a bad thing," he laughs.

"You can adapt. We've played different styles of football, we've had different tactics over the years. I think it has definitely helped me grow as a player, going from maybe full back to moving out the pitch.

"Some games you'd be back in and other games you'd be more towards the forward side of things. We've a lot of players that can play and adapt to different positions. It gives us more things that we can throw at opponents when we play them."

The past 15 months have been particularly enjoyable with the new rules. "I find it very enjoyable to play," Bambrick says.

"It is very free flowing with quick movement. There is a lot of letting advantage go and progressing, letting attacks build. It is definitely more enjoyable to watch.

"It can be tough at times, sometimes it can turn into a game of basketball, where you're up and down, up and down. It will test teams fitness. I think it has done wonders for the game, in fairness.

The manner in which Wexford have progressed recently illustrates what can be achieved. "100 per cent, Wexford are the benchmark with who we've been comparing ourselves with in Division Four," Bambrick responds.

"They're lads we wanted to be. They've had our number the last couple of times, but we got close to them in the Tailteann Cup, getting a draw at home. They're flying at the minute.

"It just goes to show, when everyone is that committed and dedicated to it what you can achieve coming from Division Four going straight to Division Two. It is great."

When Carlow failed to beat Longford and London, they didn't panic. "It would've been nice to get it done the first time, it would've saved a few nerves," Bambrick says.

"I think going into the last game against Leitrim, there was a sense of calmness across everyone, which is a bit funny. You'd think everybody would be nervous, but I think everyone was more nervous for the Longford and London games.

"When it came to the last game, it was so calm. You nearly knew before we went out, that we were going to play well. It is great to get it done in the end."

The unity in the Carlow camp is crucial according to Bambrick. "If you look at our backroom team, at the minute, a lot of them have worked outside the county with other teams," Bambrick says.

"So, you can see how well sought after they are, and we were lucky enough to get them all back at the same time. The set-up is deadly.

"It is great to have. Just having them in there, you know there is nearly more at stake. The fact they're Carlow people, and they want to win just as much as you.

"So, it is great to have that, and it really is a great time to be involved with the squad."