Kilkenny & District League Wrap: Defences frozen as goals fly in across leagues

It may be a new year but like most seasons at this time in the calendar, the weather served up yet more challenges for clubs as severe frost and ice meant a number of pitches were unplayable last weekend.

Six games did survive the weather across the Kilkenny & District League with games across the league’s four top divisions and Pat Maher Shield.

Across the junior ranks, an eye-catching 34 goals were scored last weekend locally.

PAT MAHER SHIELD:

Lions 3, Callan United 5 - Callan United started the new year as positively as they ended the last, prevailing in an eight goal thriller away in Durrow to advance to the third round.

The winners earned an impressive league draw against Freebooters prior to the Christmas break with that same spirit shining through again with yet another impressive result after stubbornly turning around 2-0 and 3-1 deficits to prevail.

John O’Brien and Eoin Sheppard gave the hosts a 2-0 lead in the 26th and 33rd minutes respectively.

Shay O’Donovan pulled a goal back for Callan six minutes later but a second from Sheppard two minutes into the new half appeared to be the insurance ticket into the next round for Lions.

But Callan’s unwillingness to give the ghost turned the tables completely.

The comeback had the name ‘Bergin’ written all over it with Ryan and Darragh Bergin bagging a goal apiece within two minutes (68th and 70th minutes).

Darragh’s influence wasn’t just simply putting the ball in the net though, with the razor sharp substitute needing just over half an hour on the pitch to have a decisive impact on the match providing the assist for the game’s two clinching goals as Conor Brett and 16 year old Aaron McCormack sealing the result.

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ST CANICE’S CU PREMIER DIVISION:

Evergreen B 0, Fort Rangers 1 - Fort Rangers (2nd) stayed in touch with top of the table Evergreen with a determined win away to Evergreen B (8th) on Saturday night. The result moves the Cuffesgrange side to within five points of the top with Emmet Nugent’s 13th goal of the season all that separated the sides by the call of time.

Thomastown United 0, Evergreen 5 - The league leaders cruised to a tenth straight victory despite a spirited first half Thomastown United (7th) display cruelly taken apart in the second.

A Nathan Sherry 21st minute red card didn’t help the Thomastown cause who despite the disadvantage, kept their composure and only trailed 0-1 at the break (David Grincell - 12th minute).

But the second half belonged to Gary Maher’s side who despite missing a Mikey Drennan penalty in stoppage time, still won at easy.

Braces from Drennan, Grincell and a first goal of the season from former Castlewarren Celtic man Jamie O’Keeffe secured all three points.

AROUND THE GROUNDS:

-DIV 1: Castlewarren 3, East End 6
-DIV 2: Southend 4, Callan United B 2
-DIV 3: Lions B 5, Stoneyford United B 0.

More on those matches to follow soon...

DON'T FORGET - If you have news and/or reports from your club, email: sport@kilkennypeople.ie

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