Simple things paid off says Nevin

In Focus - Carlow footballers: Tracking down Carlow footballers yesterday wasn't an easy task. Adviser-cum-manager Luke Dempsey was on the radio circuit, RTÉ to Newstalk. Beating Longford in the Leinster championship with just three weeks' input hasn't done his reputation any harm.

Second in demand was Johnny Nevin, the player with 15 years' county service and the one who could best put the victory in perspective. His phone rings out a few times before he answered with a justifiable remark: "You guys didn't give us much of a chance on Sunday, did ye?"

But Nevin has been around long enough to know one victory doesn't make a summer. Talk of relishing the next-round meeting with Leinster champions Laois on May 30th is quickly played down.

"No, were not going around now saying bring on Laois. It was definitely a sweet result, especially with no one giving us a chance. But our first aim was beating Longford. So it's still very early days. We've three weeks now to get ready for Laois and we'll know they'll be very difficult. But we do have the desire to try to beat them."

The influence that Dempsey has wielded in such a short time is, according to Nevin, easy to explain. The attitude was always good and he reckons it's the most talented Carlow panel in many years but something simple was lacking. Dempsey changed some ways of thinking without starting a revolution.

"We just needed a bit of steadying, and Luke brought that. He's had a very good track record with Westmeath and we felt he could bring some of that to us. But it wasn't a matter of making any big changes.

"We just worked on the simple things, working on a lot of ball in the forwards. Like the hand-passing, and working the ball through to the goal. And last year we created a lot of goal chances but just couldn't finish them, and that was something Luke worked on. How to finish those chances. And I think that paid off."

Rumours of a panel that needed strict disciplinary guidelines were also wide of the mark.

"What happened with Mick Condon was really blown out of all proportion," said Nevin. "It wasn't nearly as bad as some people portrayed. We quickly moved on, and were always motivated to play Longford. We'd done a lot of hard work during the league and had beaten Dublin in the O'Byrne Cup so we just needed to lift ourselves."

Nevin knows that Laois will present a much different challenge but at least one thing is certain: with home advantage at Dr Cullen Park the Carlow team won't lack motivation.

Talk of the game being moved to a bigger venue is for now just that. Carlow PRO Tommy Murphy feels that Dr Cullen Park will be well able to host the game, with the current capacity set at 22,000.

"We had around 18,000 there for the All-Ireland minor replay last year and that caused no problems. We also have 32 turnstiles to ensure everyone gets in safely. And ideally it will be all-ticket because that is handier for everyone."

The Leinster champions, live on Carlow ground. For one night only.