Choruses of “we are going up” could still be heard on Sunday evening following Castlewarren Celtic’s 4-1 win over Evergreen C at the Kells Road on Sunday.
With Evergreen still having a game in hand going into the final (technical) round of games for Division 2 of the Kilkenny & District League at the weekend, only a win would do for Loughboy-based Castlewarren Celtic who have been involved in a three-way dance for promotion alongside Evergreen C and Tullaroan this season.
David Roche put Evergreen C 1-0 up on the quarter-hour mark with a penalty, only for Owen Wall to convert one of his own approaching halftime to send the sides into the break level at 1-1.
After the restart, however, it was all Castlewarren on the goal front as they got the go-ahead on the hour mark with a scrappy buildup allowing Ben Cantwell to fire home. Both Cantwell and Wall would add a second each to run out 4-1 winners. Evergreen did have their chances as well in the second half but Alan Coleman proved up to the task in goal with a number of key saves. That finish means they will spend the 2023/24 season in the KCLR Scoreline.ie Division 1.
While promotion is assured thanks to a 31-point finish, the league title is not. Currently sitting top, Evergreen C trail by two points meaning a win against Tullaroan next weekend would send the league title and promotion to the Kells Road club, bumping Castlewarren to runners-up.
A win for Tullroan would seal promotion in second place, leaving Evergreen C in Division 2 and crowning Castlewaren as league champions in the process. Should that game end in a draw, Castlewarren will be crowned league champions with no games left to play, Evergreen C being promoted in the process by finishing the season in second place while Tullaroan will miss out on life in Division 1 next season.
