Carbery Rangers are working hard to get back playing Premier Senior Football

One could sense the joy and relief in the Carbery Rangers camp following their impressive McCarthy Insurance Division 1 League win over St Finbarr’s at Togher on Sunday morning.

Following their relegation last season from the Premier Senior grade they opened up with league defeats to Clonakilty and Newcestown but consecutive wins over Cill na Martra and Douglas set them up nicely for this latest win.

For manager Robbie Ahern coming to the home of the champions and getting a win will hopefully give his team some confidence going forward for the remainder of the campaign.

“I am delighted for the lads as they are putting in savage work on the training ground and to see the brand of football, we played is very satisfying for all concerned at the club,” said Robbie.

The man of the match display given by full-forward Darragh Hayes came in for special mention from his manager.

“Darragh is really playing well this season and to score 1-6 from play against the Barrs is no mean feat but look our team is not about individuals as he is playing well because the rest of the lads have also stepped up to the mark,” added Ahern.

It was a disappointing last campaign for Carbery Rangers as they suffered a relegation replay final loss to Valley Rovers, but Ahern is hoping lessons will be learned.

“We had to take on the chin and now we are working hard to get back to playing Premier Senior football so the lads know it will take a huge effort but are are prepared to put in the hard work.

“We have been in transition for a few years and eventually it caught up with us but looking back we were one of the top sides at Senior level for the bones of 10 years but it came to an end and now we must find the formula to bounce back.” 

The forthcoming Senior A championship is going to be a true test for Carbery Rangers but their manager is hoping they will be ready for three difficult group games.

“We know it’s going to be very tough as all sides want to play in the Premier Senior championship and we just have to embrace it and be prepared to die for the jersey.” 

The league campaign is the start of the Carbery Rangers mission to mix it with the elite and it is evident they are going in the right direction.

“We were unlucky in our first game against Clonakilty but we didn’t perform against Newcestown but our last three games has proved we are capable of mixing it.” 

TRICKY

The league campaign is crucial but with championship games against Cill na Martra, Newmarket and O’Donovan Rossa looming in August getting preparations right will be crucial to Carbery Rangers.

“It’s a tough group but look when I see us playing football as we did against the Barrs I know that will make us a competitive side in the championship.

There is a great group of people in our club and we are all in this together, but we know nothing less than total commitment will be good enough to make an impact in the Senior A championship.

“Right now, the lads are happy and focused so let’s finish our league campaign and hope we can continue to improve.”