The only senior honours claimed by Carlow are a Leinster title won back in 1944. They also won a 'B' All-Ireland in 1994. Kerry fisherman-publican Paddy "Bawn" Brosnan kept Carlow from reaching an All-Ireland final in 1944. His second half goal put Carlow out of the All-Ireland semi-final by 3-3 to 0-10. Because of war-time circumstances the Leinster final was played in Athy. Carlow's midfield won the Leinster title against Dublin. Ten years later Carlow reached the National League final with a famous 1-10 to 1-7 win over Armagh, but were well beaten by Mayo. There Vocational Schools team won the All Ireland Championship in 1973.
In the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Carlow teams have been much more successful. Éire Óg have 5 Leinster titles while O'Hanrahans claim one to their credit. Éire Óg were deprived of the All Ireland club title in 1993 by Cork's O'Donovan Rossa by 1-7 to 0-8 with a dramatic and controversial injury time winner after a replay. The team had to make do with immortality of a different kind, you will see them togged out in 1920-style kit, posing as the Tipperary Bloody Sunday team in Neil Jordan's film "Micharl Collins" against a Kilmacud Crokes team filling in as Dublin In the 1980-81 National League Carlow once fielded a one-club selection so that Éire Óg could prepare for their first Leinster Club final. Tommy Dwyer, at 6'7 one of the tallest midfielders in GAA history, and an Under-21 team that came within a point of beating Dublin in 1984 also won notice on football fields.
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.
| Carlow GAA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Clubs | ||
| Senior Football Championship | ||
| Ballinabranna - Éire Óg - Fenagh - Grange - Kildavin-Clonegal - Mount Leinster Rangers - O'Hanrahan's - Old Leighlin - Palatine - Rathvilly - St.Patrick's - Tinryland | ||
| Intermediate Football Championship | ||
| Askea - Ballon - Clonmore - Éire Óg 2 - Fenagh 2 - Fighting Cocks - Kilbride - Leighlinbridge - Naomh Eoin - St.Andrew's - St.Mullin's | ||
| Junior Football Championship | ||
| Milford | ||
| Senior Hurling Championship | ||
| Ballinkillen - Carlow Town - Erin's Own - Mount Leinster Rangers - Naomh Bríd - Naomh Eoin - St.Mullin's | ||
| Intermediate Hurling Championship | ||
| Kildavin-Clonegal - Palatine | ||