Rathvilly’s Gaelic football season concluded on Sunday as the Carlow champions fell to St. Mary’s Ardee, 2-08 to 0-09, in the AIB Leinster Senior Football Championship Quarter-Final.
Reflecting on the season, Rathvilly manager Kevin Byrne expressed both pride and ambition, hoping to build on the team’s successes and strive for continued development.
Byrne emphasized the importance of securing consecutive championships—a feat Rathvilly hasn’t achieved in three decades. He highlighted the team’s potential and the dedication required to reach greater heights.
“We’ve been in 18 county semi-finals in a row, probably don’t win as many championships as we should,” Byrne said. “It’s 30 years since Rathvilly went back-to-back, and that’s not good enough. We’re a small parish and we compete at a level maybe above what we should, but 30 years without back-to-back championships for Rathvilly is too long.”
With some senior players considering retirement, Byrne believes their experience can still play a crucial role in the team’s pursuit of a repeat title. “There are fellas there, maybe on the wrong side of 35-36, thinking of walking away, but I think they can add to us,” he added.
Looking ahead, Byrne remains focused on building a strong foundation for the future: “Two in a row is what we aim for, because without winning back-to-back championships, you don’t get to play quarterfinals in Leinster and learn from your mistakes.”
