The Carlow & District Juveniles League Academies have gone from strength to strength in the last number of years.

When the new committee was elected in the Autumn of 2009, Carlow were ranked 31st out of the 32 Schoolboy Leagues around the country.

The committee made a decision that we needed to put more effort into enhancing the skills that we undoubtedly had at the disposal of the League. Firstly it was decided that we should appoint an Academy Director whose sole responsibility was to improve the performances of the squad and set up an Academy structure to help the players within our league.

With the prestigious Kennedy Cup fast approaching for the then under 13 squad at the time, we devoted all our time and energy into getting them ready for this tournament with an Easter training camp in Johnstown House followed by a tough schedule of coaching sessions and friendly matches to get them ready for the Kennedy Cup.

This preparation saw the squad excel in the tournament by finishing 10th, the best ever finish to date by a Carlow Academy Team at the Kennedy Cup.