Race for Premier League title begins to heat up

There continues to be a distinctly city look to the top of the Junior St Canice’s Credit Union Premier Division with both Freebooters and Evergreen continuing on their winning ways.

Freebooters remain top of the tree after claiming a 3-0 win at home to Deen Celtic last Friday as they remain three points clear of their nearest rivals Evergreen who incidentally are ’Booters’ only league conquerors this term.

Freebooters may have own nine of their 10 games played but that defeat looks like it will be crucial in the run-in as Evergreen just keep on winning. Barring a defeat in the second fixture between the teams, another title looks to be on the way to the Kells Road.

Evergreen weren’t without a fright or two on Sunday morning however as they battled to a 2-1 success away to Bridge United.

A late Ethan Phelan effort gave Evergreen the victory that takes their 100% league record this term to eight games.

Elsewhere Thomastown United moved up to third position as they impressively dispatched of Highview Athletic in a 5-0 victory on the Goatsbridge Astro.

Rory Monks was the star of the show as he netted a hat-trick with James Drea and Adam Power also getting in on the act.

With Bridge United and Deen Celtic both losing out, Thomastown were able to overtake both in the table as they end the season in style.

There was also two games in the Junior KCLR Scoreline.ie Division 1 League where there were wins for Ormonde Villa and Castlewarren Celtic.

The Ormonde win coupled with Evergreen B’s loss to Castlewarren has ensured an exciting finish to the campaign at the top of the league.

Evergreen’s second string team were in control but a 3-1 loss in Castlewarren’s last game of the campaign has opened things up in the race for league honours.

Ormonde Villa were in sparkling form themselves as they claimed a 5-0 win away to Tullaroan and it now sets up a winner take all clash between themselves and Evergreen this weekend.

The weekend’s action was rounded off in the Junior Division 2 Emerald Tiles League as Spa United, Freebooters B and Spa United claimed wins.

Like Evergreen in the top tier, Freebooters B have won every game thus far and they continued that winning run when running out 5-2 victors over St John’s at the Fairgreen. Freebooters’ goals came via Owen Hanney (3), Kian Dunne and Harry Maher.

The other games saw Evergreen 46 win 2-1 away to Stoneyford United and Spa United found the net freely winning 5-0 at Thomastown United.

Looking ahead to the weekend there is a mixture of league and cup fare and while Evergreen and Freebooters continue their premier division title quests, the main prize to be decided is the division 1 league decider between Evergreen B and Ormonde Villa on the Kells Road.

The cup action sees Thomastown United and Freebooters B face off at United Park in the first of the McCalmont Cup quarter-finals.

The other three ties are down for decision on April 28 as Bridge United, Callan United and Evergreen B enjoy home advantage against Evergreen, Freebooters and Deen Celtic respectively.