By Terry Reilly LUKE Dempsey needs two wins from Carlow’s first three league matches to make the push for promotion. The senior football manager has a tough draw to start with. Longford at home, Limerck away and Waterford at home over the opening three weeks of the NFL Division 4 campaign. “They’re tough openers and Longford at home will be a real test to see how they’ve come on since January,” he said. “After the first three matches we’ll know if we’re in the promotion hunt or not. We’d be targeting four points from six.” All three counties will be expected to be in the mix for promotion at the end of the campaign posing problems to a transformed Carlow team but Dempsey is happy with the way the new players have coped so far. “Things are going well in general a few lads came in. David Dowling, Tony Bolger, Mark Nolan lads like that. “I was happy the midfield combination for the Wicklow game. Brendan Murphy and Sean Gannon would fit my idea for what midfielders should be and we’ve a good take from the u21s as well.” He is also going into the game following a resounding u21 victory over Laois in a challenge game and the last two senior victories. “Every win helps the mood and the manner of the win against Laois, even though they played Galway the day before, was pleasing. “It was nice to see how the players adapted to the plan. Daniel St Ledger was very impressive in the first half. “The Wicklow win was very important too and a sign of the confidence in the camp.” However his cause will not be helped by the absence of player of the year JJ Smith who picked up a reoccurrence of his hamstring injury playing for IT Carlow against UL last week. “We’ve a few worrying injuries. JJ Smith played against UL in the Sigerson and picked up a hamstring injury so he’ll be out. “Brian Murphy hurt his knee but I’m confident he’ll start and Paul Cashin, who is captain of the Maynooth Sigerson team, has ankle ligament trouble. “Eric McCormack has a groin problem and he’ll be out but Shane Redmond is back after eye surgery.” Those first games will tell a lot about Carlow’s season.