The KDSL will return this weekend following a break over the Christmas period.
The pick of the games comes in the St Canice’s Credit Union Premier Division as champions Evergreen take on their bitter rivals Freebooters at 11 am in the Watershed on Sunday.
See also: Kilkenny soccer goes on hiatus from December 11th while Carlow plays on for another week
Both teams remain undefeated in the league, with ‘booters currently on five wins from five played. Evergreen meanwhile sit three points behind them with one game less played. Both teams will be aiming to hit the ground running in the division after the lay-off for Christmas.
Speaking before the game, Freebooters stalwart and coach Seanie Doyle was adamant that the derby was exactly the type of game his side needs.
“Unfortunately we had put in for a couple of weekends (off) so we ended up with eight or nine weeks without playing a game. So we trained, but it isn’t the same. We were lucky enough to get a couple of good friendlies so that got us back into the grove very quickly.”
“You can play all the friendlies but because you can make so many changes, it isn’t the same. It is a good game to come back to, I have been involved in too many of them. I have been on the good side of some and the bad side of others. It’s a funny game. I have heard lads say it takes a life of their own. “
“We will go hell for leather at one another and it will have a big say on who wins the league at the end of the season.”
Upcoming fixture
— Freebooters AFC (@FreebootersAfc) January 2, 2023
Sunday January 8th
Premier Division
Freebooters v Evergreen A, 11am watershed
Match sponsor : 4 Motion Garage
Club sponsor : Modern Printers pic.twitter.com/xhTJPGfu6t
See also: Full weekend fixtures for Kilkenny District League.
Seanie has been a Freebooters man through and through all his life, and as he alluded to, has been involved in many battles with their old city rivals. However Evergreen has certainly added a lot of silverware over the last ten years at the expense of The Blues, when asked if that hurts, the last manager to win the league with the club admitted it certainly does;
“It does yeah because we have not won it in nearly ten years. We have come close, but I think everyone agrees that the covid lockdown costs us the league. We were three games to go, six points clear after beating Evergreen in the Fair Green.”
“To be fair Evergreen has been the best team the last few years. they have been dominant.”
You can catch the full interview with Seanie tomorrow from half two on KCLR Scoreline and we will also hear from Evergreen manager Garry Maher.
