Carlow confirmed their place in the 2019 Leinster Senior Hurling Championship this afternoon as they overcame Westmeath in the the inaugural Joe McDonagh Cup final.
The curtain-raiser for today's Leinster final between Kilkenny and Galway, Carlow won in the end with a 2-26 to 1-24 scoreline.
In a stellar year for Carlow GAA, in which the footballers gained promotion from Division 4 of the National Football League, the hurlers have now made their mark on the hurling championship.
![Carlow](https://img.resized.co/balls_ie/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL21lZGlhLmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAxOFxcXC8wNlxcXC8wMTE1MzMzNFxcXC8xNTI4Mzg0LmpwZ1wiLFwid2lkdGhcIjpcIjc2OFwiLFwiaGVpZ2h0XCI6XCI1MTZcIixcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9icmFuZC1pbWFnZS5qcGdcIixcIm9wdGlvbnNcIjp7XCJvdXRwdXRcIjpcIndlYnBcIixcInF1YWxpdHlcIjo5OX19IiwiaGFzaCI6ImZlODBmOWZhMmJmNjY5NWU3OGFlY2EyN2ViOGFhZWJlN2M0ZmE0MDAifQ==/outpouring-of-joy-as-carlow-claim-joe-mcdonagh-cup-amp-a-date-with-limerick.jpg)
Exciting fans (both Carlow, or otherwise) throughout the course of this championship year, people were quick to celebrate the latest success in their landmark year.
Glory, glory days🏆
What a team & what a performance on the biggest day.
Rising up the Hogan steps and rising up to @gaaleinster Championship Hurling we go in 2019 📶!!!!!!!
A County so proud of these lads. ❤️💛💚
#CarlowRising 🇬🇳 @itcarlow 🇬🇳 pic.twitter.com/xrWCpExynU— Carlow GAA (@Carlow_GAA) July 1, 2018
Couldn’t be more prouder of @Carlow_GAA hurlers on such a fantastic win!!!! Unfortunately it wasn’t our day but glad to see some silverware back in Carlow tonight 🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳
— Róisín Byrne (@RoisinByrne4) July 1, 2018
Huge Congratulations to @Carlow_GAA Hurlers today. Massive win... great to have our young hurlers up in Croke Park to see it 🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳#carlowrising
— Naomh Bríd Hurling (@NaomhbridHC) July 1, 2018
![Carlow](https://img.resized.co/balls_ie/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL21lZGlhLmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAxOFxcXC8wNlxcXC8wMTE1Mzg1OVxcXC8xNTI4MzQyLmpwZ1wiLFwid2lkdGhcIjpcIjc2OFwiLFwiaGVpZ2h0XCI6XCI0NzJcIixcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9icmFuZC1pbWFnZS5qcGdcIixcIm9wdGlvbnNcIjp7XCJvdXRwdXRcIjpcIndlYnBcIixcInF1YWxpdHlcIjo5OX19IiwiaGFzaCI6ImQ0MmE0ZTM5YjM1NWY3ZTg4MTNmZGQxZGQwYjM3ZjUyMWExODcyNDIifQ==/outpouring-of-joy-as-carlow-claim-joe-mcdonagh-cup-amp-a-date-with-limerick.jpg)
Unreal year for Carlow hurlers so far. Sounded like a very strong performance. And I'll be back for Saturday's game 🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳👍👍👍👍
— Dave O'Neill Music (@daveoneillmusic) July 1, 2018
Huge win for Carlow hurlers but strange to hear a captain’s winning speech acknowledging Joe McDonagh as a ‘Gael’ without a single focal Gaeilge... #CLG GaillimhAbú
— CianoGalwayGAA (@CianoGaa) July 1, 2018
Congratulations to @Carlow_GAA who are the inaugural winners of the Joe McDonagh Cup here in Croker! Wonderful occasion.
— Laura T (@nursieLT) July 1, 2018
Well done lads! Brilliant performance 🇬🇳🇬🇳🇬🇳 #CarlowRising
— Jason Canavan (@FigoCanavan91) July 1, 2018
![Carlow](https://img.resized.co/balls_ie/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL21lZGlhLmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL3VwbG9hZHNcXFwvMjAxOFxcXC8wNlxcXC8wMTE1MzgzMVxcXC8xNTI4NDgxLmpwZ1wiLFwid2lkdGhcIjpcIjc2OFwiLFwiaGVpZ2h0XCI6XCI0ODJcIixcImRlZmF1bHRcIjpcImh0dHBzOlxcXC9cXFwvd3d3LmJhbGxzLmllXFxcL2ltYWdlc1xcXC9icmFuZC1pbWFnZS5qcGdcIixcIm9wdGlvbnNcIjp7XCJvdXRwdXRcIjpcIndlYnBcIixcInF1YWxpdHlcIjo5OX19IiwiaGFzaCI6IjhjNTY2ZDA5YjA4YjU4YTVjOWE5ZTQ0YTUwZWZlNDU5NDc2YTM0ZTYifQ==/outpouring-of-joy-as-carlow-claim-joe-mcdonagh-cup-amp-a-date-with-limerick.jpg)
Carlow's immediate prize is a game next weekend against Limerick; the third-placed team in the Munster provincial championship.
Taking place in Netwach Dr. Cullen Park, the full details are set to be confirmed in the morning.