The downside of winter football was taken a step further on Saturday when Carlow and Wicklow senior footballers found themselves locked out of the ground.

Both teams arrived to Brother Leo Park on Saturday afternoon for a senior football challenge only to find the gates locked and no keys available. After a 30-minute wait a visiting player came to the rescue.

He got a hammer and chisel in the boot of his car and proceeded to break open the lock to gain admittance. They then had to break the locks on the dressing-room before the game eventually got under way.

It was further embarrassment for Carlow football who only a few weeks back could muster only 14 players to start their All-Ireland B football championship game against Wexford and had contemplated withdrawing from the National League unless they met with a positive response from the players.

But having given the commitment the players found themselves embarrassingly locked out.