Hurling & Camogie

Middletown veteran Cahal Carvill focused on hurling final silverware

Middletown's Martin Moan helps his side to victory over Éire Óg An Charraig Mhór at Corrigan Park, Belfast. Picture by Seamus Loughran
Middletown's Martin Moan helps his side to victory over Éire Óg An Charraig Mhór at Corrigan Park, Belfast. Picture by Seamus Loughran Middletown's Martin Moan helps his side to victory over Éire Óg An Charraig Mhór at Corrigan Park, Belfast. Picture by Seamus Loughran

CAHAL Carvill has been labouring with the Middletown senior hurlers for 13 years now, and knows that there will not be many more chances like Sunday’s to add precious silverware to his collection.

The three-in-a-row Armagh champions face Derry champs Lavey at Corrigan Park on Sunday, after they overcame Eire Og Carrickmore and Sarsfields in their respective last four clashes.

As we speak, 30-year-old Carvill says that he and his team-mates are putting the final tweaks to their preparations as they bid to repeat their 2011 triumph in this competition.

“When you get to my age, the chances to take home silverware are few and far between,” laughed Carvill.

“So we’re really looking forward to it, the whole community is behind us, the flags have gone up and posters and different things.

“It was great to win three-in-a-row for the first time in our club’s history earlier on this year.

“So it’ll be really the cherry on top to win Ulster and to look forward to an All-Ireland series.

“Having had 13 years of playing football and hurling with Armagh and with the club as well, and travelling up and down from Belfast during those years – it certainly takes its toll.

“The grains of sand are slipping away at this stage. And life moves on as well. It’s a real honour for us as a club to be there, but finals are for winning and these opportunities don’t come around too often.

“It’s the same with the Lavey boys – they’ll be thinking the same thing.

“We have won it before, but it seems like a lifetime ago now and although there are some familiar faces, it is a different Middletown outfit now.

“But I’m enjoying it as much today as when I was breaking in as a minor.''

Although he knows a couple of the Lavey players, such as Paddy Henry and Sam Dodds, Carvill admits that he is not overly familiar with their team, but is nonetheless certain that their pedigree and recent impressive form is to be feared.

“It’s going to be one hell of a battle come Sunday and we’re looking forward to it,” declared Carvill.

“We will have to be at our very best in order to beat this Lavey team.

“I understand that they’re a very physical and a very tough team.

“And obviously if they’re overcome Sarsfields, who we played in a friendly earlier on in the year and who are a very good team, we’re expecting them to be a quality outfit.

“I don’t know that much about them myself but I know that they are a good outfit and coming from that part of Derry, they’ll be very strong and they’ve a good history.”

It took extra time to separate Middletown and their Tyrone opponents in the semi-final, a clash which Carvill feels was of great benefit to the Armagh men.

“We were well tested by Carrickmore,” he said.

“They were a tough team and they’ve always presented a tough battle for us.

“We just about got by there so we know where we are as a club coming into this final.

“We have prepared as best we can. We have the boys who have the experience there as well.

“But as I say, we’re under no illusions as to what Lavey bring to the table.

“And there is no doubt that Lavey will be favourites given that they have accounted for Sarsfields.

“We are underdogs coming in and we know that, but we’re going to give it our best shot.”