Where We Stand: Premier Division in Kilkenny up and running
As featured in the soccer section of the Kilkenny People
Evergreen, who are brimming with confidence after securing qualification for the FAI Junior Cup Final, sealed their ninth league title in a row last May and will be odds-on favourites to win a tenth in a row in 2026/27.
Lions 0, Freebooters A 2 – The second part of the old firm, Freebooters, began the new season on a winning note with a professional win on the road in Durrow.
The Kilkenny City club made a stuttering start to the season and will no doubt be keen to overtake Fort Rangers as Evergreen’s greatest challengers.
All the action came in the second half, with two goals and a sending-off all occurring in the final half an hour.
After a goalless opening 45 minutes, Owen Hanney opened the scoring for ‘Booters’ on the 65th minute after receiving a pass from Cian Franey.
Franey, who had only been brought on as a substitute just past the hour mark, experienced the highs and lows of football within a short period of time.
Despite setting up the goal, indiscipline proved costly, as two yellow cards in a short period of time meant Booters had to play the final 20 minutes with ten men.
Any chance of the Lions stealing a point was snatched away in the dying minutes.
After intercepting a pass, Joe Banville delivered the killer blow with the game’s clinching goal to give his team the ideal start to the new season.
Newpark 0, Freebooters B 2 – A few days earlier, the Freebooters B team kicked off life in the Premier Division with a noteworthy win away in Newpark.
Like their ‘A team a week later, as well as being on the road, both goals for the winners were scored in the second half at almost identical times.
Harry Maher, who bagged ten league goals for St John’s in Division 2 last season, made a dream start to life at Freebooters with a netted finish in the 63rd minute.
The experienced Mark Flynn brought back memories of the baby-faced assassin to soccer fans of a certain vintage as he scored his first of the season within 60 seconds of entering proceedings. The 88th-minute finish sealed victory on a successful week for the Fair Green outfit.
Evergreen B 5, Thomastown United 1 – The Kells Road outfit delivered a five-star showing to bring their Grennan opponents back to Premier Division life with a bang.
The referee’s whistle had hardly been blown when John McNamara opened the scoring two minutes in. However, the away side were more than competitive in the opening 45 minutes and were rewarded for their effort with a goal on the brink of half-time. David Holden’s goal was the final act of the opening half.
However, the floodgates opened on the hour mark for Evergreen B.
A brace from Chris Whearty, Aidan O’Neill, within three minutes of coming on as a substitute, and David Roche all netted.