Carlow soccer league rivals drawn together in FAI Junior Cup
After a titanic battle between the clubs for last season's Carlow Premier Division title, there will be an early season meeting between New Oak Boys and Crettyard after they were paired together in the FAI Junior Cup Photo: michaelorourkephotography.ie
The early rounds of outside competitions can often throw up tough ties, especially when to start with Carlow, Kilkenny and Wexford are grouped with each other and it’s an open draw from those three leagues. This year has thrown up a mouthwatering Carlow Soccer League derby with New Oak Boys drawn against their arch rivals Crettyard.
The game pits last season’s top two in Carlow against each other in a huge cup tie in the latest chapter of this famous rivalry. Many fans would have been hoping for the two sides to go deep in the competition this season but unfortunately now only one will be able to progress to the second round.
The game will provide fans with an early opportunity to see the two go head to head. New Oak will be out for blood as they try to right the wrongs of last season where Crettyard beat them to the Nationalist Premier Division title, but Crettyard is a club who have storied success in outside competitions and to date are the only Carlow side to reach an LFA Junior Cup final, back in 2019, narrowly losing to Sheriff. It will be a chance for both to show their title credentials early on in the season and set out a marker for the season to come. It’s a mouthwatering tie that will certainly draw the crowds to the Burrin Road 22 September with both sides harbouring dreams of going deep into the competition.
Other first round ties for Carlow sides in the competition include Killeshin vs Crossabeg of Wexford, Vale vs Glynn Barntown, Bagenalstown away to Castlewarren Celtic, Kilree Celtic hosting Rosslare Rangers, St. Pat’s make the short trip over to Castlecomer to face Deen Celtic, and Parkville United host Kilmore United. St. Fiacc’s and Dolmen Celtic received byes. There iss potential for another all Carlow tie in round 2 as the winners of Vale/Barntown are down to host the winners of Pat’s and Deen Celtic. That would be a another mouthwatering clash between two managers who know each other very well in Patrick Brennan and Billy Nolan who used to manage at Crettyard together.
