Bagenalstown crowned Division 1 Champions
Celebrations at full time as Bagenalstown are crowned 2026 Division 1 Champions.
Bagenalstown were crowned champions on Friday night as they recorded their tenth win in as many games this season, maintaining a 100% record en route to lifting the Carlow Concrete Tanks O35 Division 1 title.
In fact, all Bagenalstown had to do to win the league was show up, after New Oak, who were the only other team who could mathematically win the league by winning all of their remaining games, were held to a 1-1 draw with Burrin Celtic.
However, Bagenalstown didn’t just turn up, they were eager to maintain their 100% record for the season and win it on their own terms. And they did just that as an injury-ravaged side showed the depth of their squad beat a determined Crettyard United side.
This is a sixth trophy in four seasons for this Bagenalstown side. In 2023, they won Division 3, the Division 3 Cup and the Martin Mullins Memorial Senior Cup. They went on to win the Division 2 Cup in 2024 as well as retaining their Senior Cup.
They fell just short in the league that season and again in 2025 when they were just two points off Hanover Harps who claimed the crown.
While the scoreline shows just 1-0, it could have been a lot worse for Crettyard, with Bagenalstown, despite not being at full strength, having several chances to extend their lead.
Crettyard were missing a number of players themselves and boasted just 12 names in their match-day squad. But they still put it up to Bagenalstown, making it difficult, as they always do.
Bagenalstown went close early through an effort from John Doyle but he was denied by a great save from Connor Kelly in the Crettyard goal who palmed the ball away.
With ten minutes on the clock, the home side took the lead as Martin Bambrick got on the end of a ball from Doyle to the right of the goal and broke into space one-on-one with Kelly, burying it into the back of the net.
Barry Doyle found himself in space down the right and sent in a cross to the back post for his Crettyard teammate, Sean Foley, but his headed effort went wide of the upright.
Into the second half, a John Doyle effort from distance for Bagenalstown was guided just wide on the left. Trevor Nolan struck an effort over the bar, but the second goal never came.
It wasn't needed, however, and the trophy now belongs to Bagenalstown.
Derek Tebay, Derek Mara, Martin Cummins, Blaine Dwyer, James Geoghegan, Trevor Nolan, Martin Bambrick, Danny Darcy, John Doyle, Mikey Whelan, John Dowling.
Keith McDonald, Pa Deane, Ian Conroy.
Connor Kelly, Mark Smyth, Nicholas O’Neill, James Sherwood, Sean Kinahan, Padraig McGrath, Barry Doyle, Cathal Fleming, Willie Kavanagh, Eddie O’Reilly, Seamus Foley.
Niall Purcell.
