As the local soccer season comes to a close, this weekend had more silverware to hand out.
In Carlow, the New Oak Boys train has barely hit a bump in the tracks all season long. A seventh consecutive league title, another KCLR Carlow Shield, retaining the Keating Memorial Premier Cup, goals galore and more meant New Oak would be odds-on favourites heading into Saturday’s Douglas Jewellers Carlow Cup against Parkville United.
Just as in 2022, they’re going to be celebrating another quadruple-winning season, thanks in no small part to the goal-scoring prowess of Cody Mulhall whose hat-trick helped the defending champions to a 3-1 win over Parkville at Scats Quakers Park in Killeshin.
Mulhall opened his account for the day with just two minutes on the clock with an early free kick ultimately sending New Oak in 1-0 up at the break. The second half sparked to life on 55 minutes with Mulhall sinking another free kick, this time from 35 yards out before Parkville pulled one back just five minutes later. By 70 minutes it was all over on the scoring front, Mulhall completing his hat-trick, New Oak well on their way to a fourth and trophy of the season.
Castlewarren named Division 2 Cup champions in Kilkenny
While the celebrations were taking place on the field in Carlow, they were taking place off the field in Kilkenny.
Saturday’s Ken & Michael Byrne Cup Division 2 final, due to be played in Derdimus at 6pm was called off on the day. Scoreline understands that requests had been made by Freshford to have the game moved to an alternative date due to issues in fielding a full team, but in the end, the decision was made to award Castlewarren the cup title.
The Loughboy-based side had contested the last three cup finals, losing out in all three. They finished runners-up in this year’s Division 2, securing promotion to the KCLR Scoreline.ie Division 1 for the 2023/24 season.
Elsewhere this weekend
In Kilkenny, Bridge United at a 3-1 win over Fort Rangers on Saturday evening to book themselves into the final of this year’s Mock Lawlor Premier Cup where they will play either Evergreen A, Freebooters or Callan United. Callan are already in the semi-finals, awaiting the winner of the city derby booked for 21 May.
By 5pm today (Sunday) we’ll also know the finalists for this year’s KCLR McCalmont Cup as Callan United face Evergreen 46 at 11am while Freebooters take on Deen Celtic at 3pm. Both games are being staged in Derdimus Park.
