• Headlines
  • Listen Live
  • About
  • Advertise
Scoreline.ie
  • GAA
  • Camogie
  • Soccer
  • Rugby
  • Podcasts
  • Other Sports
No Result
View All Result
KCLR
Scoreline.ie
No Result
View All Result
Scoreline.ie
No Result
View All Result
ADVERTISEMENT

Evergreen overcome resilient Newpark to claim the KCLR McCalmont Cup

Gary Maher's side came out on top thanks to a late Mikey Drennan penalty.

Robbie Dowling by Robbie Dowling
Friday 16 July, 2021
in Soccer
Reading Time: 3 mins read
Evergreen overcome resilient Newpark to claim the KCLR McCalmont Cup

Evergreen, the McCalmont Cup & Maher Shield winners for the 2020/21.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Evergreen A 1

Newpark A 0

Evergreen have won the KCLR McCalmont Cup for a record-breaking seventeenth time after they defeated a spirited Newpark side on Friday night at Derdimus Park.

In a tight and cagey affair, the game hinged on a single moment. With less than ten minutes remaining, referee Vinny Kiely deemed Newpark right back Stuart Delaney had handled the ball inside the box. Kiely pointed to the spot. Deserved or not, Newpark’s protests were in vain as the surprisingly anonymous but ever classy Mikey Drennan stepped up to send ‘keeper Darren Rowe to his left as the ball nestled nicely in the opposite bottom corner.

Irrespective of whether the penalty should or should not have been awarded, Newpark were more than worthy of at least taking the game to extra time against three-in-a-row winners Evergreen. They set up to frustrate the champions by placing men behind the ball. That tactic did not deter them from being an attacking force, however.

They had the first chance of note fifteen minutes into the opening period when striker Matty Holohan scuffed his shot wide after it fell to the number ten on the edge of the box. Despite the sustained periods of possession in their opponent’s half, Evergreen failed to find the cutting edge that they are so often associated with. They did manage to test goalkeeper Darren Rowe for the first time midway through the first half when Sam Hickey got to the end line and found his captain Seán Barcoe with a cut back. Rowe saved well at his near post from Barcoe’s effort.

While the opening quarter certainly belonged to Evergreen in terms of possession and territory, Newpark began to make inroads as the half continued after a much-needed water break on an incredibly hot evening at Derdimus.

Their first, and the game’s first big chance came when Joey Walsh found himself on the edge of the box with only Evergreen shot-stopper Philly Johnson to beat. Johnson saved well with his feet but if Walsh had put it either side of the ‘keeper, Newpark could have got the all-important first goal.

Gary Maher’s side ended the half the better of the two sides. They slightly upped the tempo after a sluggish start as the first half ushered towards its conclusion. However, they could not take advantage of a flurry of late corners as Newpark held firm to deservedly keep the game goalless at the break.

Much like the opening exchanges of the first forty-five minutes, Evergreen gained control of the game with Newpark happy to sit in, soak up the pressure and hit on the break. Left back Hickey shot from distance but Rowe managed to push a powerful attempt that bounced in front of him around the post.

Evergreen full back Tommy Earls received what looked a harsh yellow card for a foul on substitute Jack Sheridan. The incident, which took place right in front of both management teams, sparked a heated argument between both dugouts. The teams’ respective managers had now caught up with the edge that their sides had brought to the game.

Newpark once again had a glorious opportunity to take the lead when a Jack Sheridan corner found the head of man of the match Jack Poyntz. He headed over from six yards. The Bogsiders would come to rue their missed chances in a game of very few clear goal scoring opportunities.

Evergreen manager Maher attempted to regain control of a game that was not going his side’s way when he brought on Jamie Owens for Dean Cornally with twenty minutes left to play. The personnel change was to prove key as Newpark failed to create while Evergreen finally moved up through the gears.

Evergreen’s centre forward Seán Barcoe found Mikey Drennan when he chipped a delightful ball over the top of the Newpark defence. Through on goal, the former Shamrock Rovers, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers player uncharacteristically pulled his shot wide.

However, the talented Drennan was not to be denied from the spot five minutes later as he converted a contentious penalty.

Ecstasy for Evergreen as they clinch a record breaking seventeenth KCLR McCalmont Cup title to add to their Pat Maher Shield victory. For Newpark it was devastation as they lost their second cup final in less than a week to their city rivals after a 3-1 defeat to Evergreen B in the Division One Cup final last Sunday.

Latest podcast from Scoreline.ie

Follow for free on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Latest Updates

Coláiste Abhainn Rí senior camogie team
Sport Star Awards

And the winner is: Coláiste Abhainn Rí Callan’s senior camogie team claim David Buggy Motors Kilkenny Sport Star Award for January

by Ken McGuire
8th February 2023
0

One Kilkenny secondary school has a bit extra to celebrate this week with Coláiste Abhainn Rí's senior camogie team named...

Read more

A feast of football: Netwatch Cullen Park hosts Sigerson Cup semi-finals tonight

Scoreline Morning Report: Impressive Tipp, Sigerson semi-finals, road to Cheltenham

“A difficult day for Carlow hurling”: Terence Kelly on defeat to Kildare in Allianz Hurling League

Scoreline Morning Report: Kilkenny with work to do, City in trouble?

Latest Podcasts

Caman Caint

Camán Caint S04E01: Ashbourne Cup weekend, Camogie Media Awards, abuse of officials

7th February 2023
Full Time

Full Time #70: Elena Byne (Kilkenny LGFA) and recapping Kilkenny & Carlow inter-county action at the weekend

7th February 2023
Full Time

Full Time #69: Thyestes recap, ladies rugby in Kilkenny, Carlow v Wicklow and more

31st January 2023
Hurling

Scoreline Extra #111: Carlow postmatch, Kilkenny legends Paul Murphy & Anne Dalton, Irish international Ellen Molloy & lots more

29th January 2023
Scoreline.ie

Scoreline is KCLR's sports brand, bringing you the latest sporting news from Kilkenny, Carlow and around the country.

Listen live on-air and online weekends from 2pm.

Follow us on social media:

Show Times

  • Monday 6.10pm
  • Friday 6.10pm
  • Weekends 2-6pm

Podcasts

  • Podcasts Home
  • Camán Caint
  • The Football Manager Football Show
  • The Clash Act
  • All Things MMA

Contact Scoreline.ie

KCLR Sport
Leggettsrath Business Park
Carlow Road
Kilkenny R95 YTD5

E: [email protected]
T: 1800 909696

© 2023 KCLR · All rights reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • GAA
  • Camogie
  • Soccer
  • Rugby
  • Podcasts
  • Other Sports

© 2023 KCLR · All rights reserved