CO. CARLOW slipped another rung towards relinquishing senior status when comprehensively defeated by the league leaders at Oak Park on Saturday.

It was always a case of damage limitation against the pacy students who had defeated them in the AIB Cup earlier in the season and who could have done infinitely more damage had they used a reasonable percentage of ball enjoyed in the second half.

Predictability spoils the anticipation of any contest, but the home club, reeling from injuries, had its weakest bench of the season, and forced to press one of its medical staff into service. There was never a hint of even a bonus point with Billy Murphy posting Carlow's only score with a penalty for a deliberate knock-on after the northerners had gone 15 points ahead.

The result was on the cards as early as the fifth minute when Michael Hooks cut through the centre to score at the dressingroom end and moments later David McElwaine tacked on a penalty.

Tom Patton and Michael Pyper added tries – one converted by a McElwaine – before the interval and the visitors lost their edge in the second half in which Pyper and McElwaine went through for tries in the 47th and 52nd minutes to take full points and go four points ahead at the top of the table and almost certain of a return to Division 2.

There was no lack of energy and determination from the black and amber who failed in the technical aspects, particularly in defence where infrequent player, and normally a forward, Shannon Browne was excellent in midfield, but the defence was hesitant while Carlow were far from the full deck out of touch although they stole a number of Queens throws through Damien Carley and Wes Whitten.

Poor training numbers and a high number of injuries have contributed to a lack of familiarity with patterns and it showed on the park with the entire bench relative strangers to the team this season, although the return of Joe O'Gorman improved the line-out aspect considerably while skipper Tommy Ratahi, playing at No. 8 was unlucky not to have score a final quarter try while making a saving tackle as a Queens raid promised yet a further five pointer.

David Barron had a good match at 9 but as is the case too often he and partner Rory Stynes are not in receipt of quality ball which leaves them on the back foot and thinking in defensive mode too often.

Thoughts now turn to Saturday's away match with Barnhall where a win could be critical for the Oak Parkers if they are to retain senior status, for another defeat could, at best, leave them facing a play-off to remain in Division 3.

They travel to Parsonstown without John Joe Waddock, Clive Gee Keith Corrigan and Padraig Brennan, all through injuries, and could also miss Sean Hennessy, Billy Murphy (thumb injury) and Mark Slye which leaves Carlow with a skeleton crew, many of which do not have the training miles up this season and shy of the patterns coach Jason Jones has been trying to establish.

Jones informed the players, following the Nenagh match, that he would be leaving Carlow at the end of the campaign, after three seasons and the Australian is not intending to add a demotion to his c.v. "I won't be in Carlow next season but it's a mutual decision. I had decided on that several weeks ago

- PAUL DONAGHY