Town conquerors flourish on national stage

One of the most progressive clubs in the country, Carlow, climbed another step up the ladder last Sunday when they beat Bective Rangers at Donnybrook in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final to book a place against Clontarf in the final. The full impact of the achievement is underlined by a look at the club's recent history.

In 1996 they were playing in the Leinster Senior League, and were recognised as one of the most progressive and promising "junior" clubs in the country. Five years later they are ensconced in the AIB League Division One, having avoided becoming makeweights in their first season among the elite.

The journey began when Carlow achieved All-Ireland League status (Division Four) at the end of the 1996-97 season through the qualifying round-robin series, having first won the Leinster Senior League. They announced their arrival in the senior ranks by winning promotion to Division Three at the end of the first season.

Consolidating their position over the next 12 months, Carlow then benefited from the restructuring of the AIB League, finishing fourth to Ballynahinch as the top five teams were promoted to Division Two.

It was reasonable to expect they would struggle to retain their new status but once again they confounded the pundits. Last year they finished second to UCD in Division Two, gaining promotion to the top flight. It was a staggering achievement.

On September 30th, a crowd of over 3,000 thronged their well appointed ground, Oak Park, to witness Carlow's first game in Division One - and were rewarded with a 16-11 win over Young Munster.

It was quite an occasion, probably the most important in the club's 128-year history, not least because of the victory over the former champions. The atmosphere was wonderfully raucous and colourful, completely alien to most Leinster clubs. The clubhouse was packed before and after the match and a marquee was erected.

But this wasn't simply a male gathering. Family entertainment was the order of the day and that was manifest in the numbers that turned up. Carlow rugby embraces the parish philosophy associated with Gaelic games. Good husbandry has guaranteed the club do not suffer from the financial millstones of most rivals in the division.

Their current success has its origins in the five Provincial Towns Cup successes in the 1990s and the coaching framework laid down by first Jim Lowry and now, in his third year at the club, Australian Kim Thurbon.

New Zealander and captain Andy Melville has also made a huge impression over the past seven seasons. The 27-year-old is one of the best club players in the country. He has been instrumental in the current team's run of success that has seen them follow their win over Young Munster with victories against Lansdowne and Clontarf: they have lost just one match in four this season.

Carlow have largely avoided the cheque-book handshake to entice players to Oak Park, preferring to welcome back old boys like former Leinster player Ian Dwyer and also cultivate a thriving underage section that numbers a little under 200.

One of the most impressive of the talented youngsters is 20-year-old second row Ronan Bolger. Coming from a GAA background, he took up rugby only four years ago with Tullow before joining Carlow. This season he was capped at Leinster under-21 level and is a player of promise.

Melville attributes Carlow's success over the last five years to "hard work and a great attitude. The commitment to training and the desire to work hard for one another stands out."

He acknowledges that the team receive recognition in the community. "A lot of people in the town have been coming up and congratulating us which is nice, but for the players the focus is on the next three matches starting with Buccaneers on Sunday."

Carlow offer an example of what can be achieved with good structures, community support and a clear and honest appraisal of the financial pitfalls that bedevil club rugby. They have achieved so much in a short space of time and show no signs of slowing down.