Hurling
Carlow are the reigning (2008) Christy Ring Cup Champions, effectively the "Division 2" All-Ireland championship. They beat Westmeath in a classic final (after extra time) by 3-22 to 4-16. This was their first "Division 2" win since 1994 and their first in the re-arranged All-Ireland structure which sees 4 divisions in hurling for 2009. Carlow beat Offaly in the 2005 National Hurling League and nearly gained promotion to Division 1. Carlow's nearly day in hurling came 42 years earlier in the 1963 Leinster hurling semi-final when Carlow led Dublin, All Ireland finalsist two years earlier, by 1-4 to 0-5 at half time. Carlow eventually lost by ten points. In 1987 they won an All-Ireland Senior B hurling victory, but the team, spearheaded by dual star Paddy Quirke were beaten by London in the final "proper." In 1993 Carlow go a by straight in to the 1993 Leinster semi-final but despite home advantage lost to Kilkenny by 18 points. Things could have been worse: for their 1908 championship match against Dublin, only twelve players turned up. Leading clubs include Saint Mullins, Naomh Eoin and Naomh Brid. In Christy Ring Cup 2006 Carlow reached the Christy Ring cup final only to go down to a strong Antrim side.
However, in 2008, Carlow returned to the Christy Ring Cup final, and triumphed in the final at O'Conner Park against Westmeath. It was Carlow's first win in the competition, and their first win at All-Ireland level since 1992. They repeated the trick the following year, defeating Down at Croke Park to win a two in a row and earn automatic promotion to the Liam McCarthy Tier One Senior Hurling Championship for 2010.
Read more about this topic: Carlow GAA