It's a long way to the top, as both Carlow and ACDC can confirm.
A county with just six senior clubs, the Scallion Eaters' presence at the pinnacle of hurling has been sporadic.
They were there for a few years in the early 60s after winning the second edition of the now defunct Intermediate All-Ireland championship.
A 'Senior B' title in 1992 led to a sustained period of play in the Leinster SHC but they usually made an early exit, apart from that first campaign in '93 when an open draw meant their opening fixture was a semi-final defeat to eventual champions Kilkenny.
They dropped down to the Christy Ring Cup when hurling introduced tiered competitions from 2005 and won it back-to-back in 2008-9, the second victory being enough to persuade GAA Congress that they should be promoted back to Leinster.
They lost to Laois in the first round in 2010, gained instant revenge in a qualifier rematch but then lost their next five championship clashes.
Carlow eventually got back on the winning trail against London in 2013 and also defeated Westmeath the following year, the first of the preliminary group phase. They preserved their status by beating Antrim for the first time in 2015 but were relegated back to the Christy Ring in 2016.
Under new manager Colm Bonnar, they immediately bounced back up and then impressively claimed the first edition of the Joe McDonagh Cup and consecutive promotions, playing eventual All-Ireland champions Limerick in the preliminary quarter-finals.
A single season of Leinster round-robin action followed in 2019 when they lost all four games and Galway's failure to win by more than six points cost the Tribesmen their place in the knock-out stages.
Carlow have been trying to get back to the top tier since, but today's Joe McDonagh Cup final clash with Offaly (Live on RTÉ2/RTÉ Player) is the first opportunity after three trying campaigns.
"There have been three years, 2020, '21 and '22 we fell short and we didn't get to the final," corner/full-back Paul Doyle, 30, tells RTÉ Sport.
"We had some good games but we just couldn't get that level of consistency into our game.
"We won the Joe McDonagh in 2018, we went up to the Leinster championship then, we were competitive enough in games but we ended up going back down. In 2020 then, it was the first lockdown year so we struggled with that a bit and the last few years we've been a team in transition.
"Looking back at 2018, I think we have 10 lads left from that panel of 26. There's been a big change so it's just about regrouping and getting another team through, new management as well, this is Tom's [Mullally] third year with us so we've been trying to build.
"As a group, we have definitely come together. There was a bit of a transition the last few years but there’s a good mix there between experienced players and younger players coming through now.
"You're looking at the likes of Jack McCullagh, Fiachra Fitzpatrick, Conor Kehoe that were young fellas and he would have them at minor level. He knows those guys too [from coaching Carlow minors] and he'd be bringing them through."
Mullaly previously led Clara to the county title crown in his native Kilkenny and Mount Leinster Rangers to the 2013 Leinster club title and 2013/14 All-Ireland final.
Since succeeding Bonnar in 2021 he has combined his Carlow duties with steering Naas to four Kildare crowns on the trot and an Intermediate Club All-Ireland.
"He's brilliant," says Doyle. "He's a great motivator and he always has a different angle on each game.
"He's very good to do his research on different teams and try to figure out strengths and weaknesses but the overall thing with him is that he drives standards, that would be the big thing for him.
"He would give the team a bit of control on the whole thing too, he'd come back to us and say 'What do ye think about the whole thing?' and it would be player-led rather than him dictating from the top."
Offaly rotated most of their team for the final-round 18-point thumping that secured Carlow's place in the decider but Doyle expects a much stiffer challenge at Croke Park today and a big Faithful crowd fired up by last week's Leinster U20 title success.
"We still had a job to go out and do," he says. "We had to win that game because we knew if we did that we'd be in a final.
"We would have played them in the league [a 1-19 to 1-12 win for Offaly] as well, which would have been a big insight into how they play too.
"Offaly have a massive support but I would be urging people in Carlow to get on buses and come up and support us. We need every voice we can get and it would be brilliant for us.
"They have been excellent this year to support us. We've had games up in Ballycran, up and down, which is a good spin from Carlow, four or five hours. People have left that morning for that match and come back that evening. Anyone that can come out, we would be delighted to see them."
St Mullins' man Doyle hopes that the exposure of a televised live final encourages more in the county to take up hurling.
"A few years ago there would have been four," he says of Carlow's six senior sides.
"The player pool that we have, we probably are punching above our weight. We're well aware of that.
"We just need two or three players every year to come through and strengthen the squad. Saturday is going to be massive for us because we're never showcased on the TV.
"More clubs is definitely important. The two biggest towns in Carlow are Carlow Town itself and Tullow. Carlow Town are intermediate but they have such big numbers there you'd be thinking, fingers crossed, they’ll be able to get their player numbers up. Tullow, I think put out junior teams the last few years but if you're looking at your two biggest areas you’d be hoping there would be hurling in those areas.
"Burren Rangers [in south-east Carlow] was started up maybe 15, 20 years ago. Progressed as a juvenile club up to adult level. I presume in the next few years they’ll be up to intermediate and then up to senior, which is only going to strengthen it."
"We'll keep punching above our weight as best as we can."
What would promotion back to Leinster mean?
"The Joe McDonagh competition has been excellent the last few years," he reflects.
"We have loved it in Carlow anyway. The games we have gotten have been excellent, really tough games.
"But you'd love to be able to push on, progress the group if you could and get up to Liam MacCarthy. That’s where you really want to be hurling and challenging yourself.
"Westmeath seem to be after staying up for a few years now. It would be great to be in that position.
"With our small playing numbers, it might be difficult for us. But we'll keep punching above our weight as best as we can."
Watch the Joe McDonagh Cup final, Carlow v Offaly, live on Saturday from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow updates on all of the day's GAA action on the RTÉ News app, RTÉ.ie/Sport or radio updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
