Crettyard United has yet to be beaten in this competition, having won 2 out of its last 3 games.
Form: W D W

Carlow Rovers
Form: L D L W

Bagenalstown travelled to the Carlow Youth Center to play Carlow Rovers who could go top of the league if they won. Even with the temperature showing 29 degrees the open exchanges were run at a fast pace with both sides trying to take control of the game. Both defences held their lines very well and caught each other offside many times. As the game went on Bagenalstown started to get a foothold and were putting the Rovers defense under pressure.

In the 34th minute the Bagenalstown pressure paid off with a superb volley from Michael 'Micko' Salters left foot into the top right corner giving the keeper no chance. Bagenalstown led by a single goal at halftime. Rovers started the second half strong as was expected but the Bagenalstown defense held strong and soaked up the pressure and also had luck on their side with Eddie Dooley smashing the woodwork twice on anight where the ball just wouldn’t go into the net for the Carlow tea. Trevor Nolan came close on a few occasions for Bagenalstown but was unlucky not to get a second for the visitors. With 32 minutes gone Shane Hickey got the line for a second yellow card and Rovers tried to get something from the free kick but again the Bagenalstown defense were equal to it.

Bagenalstown held on for an away win but both teams were exhausted after playing in such extreme heat and both teams played their part in a very entertaining game.

Player's of note for Bagenalstown Keith Doyle (goalie) the back line Shane Hickey, Paul Mahon, Micko Salter and Thomas Kinsella, center midfield of Keiran Cummins and Eddie Dermody. Best players for Carlow rovers were Paul Doyle, Anthony Slevin and Ken McDonald.

Fortbarrington 0 3 Carlow Rovers

Carlow Rovers travelled to Athy on Saturday evening determined to continue their good form and they got off to the perfect start winning a corner and Eddie Dooley scored straight from it. The Carlow defence stood solid against the Fortbarrington attack and were awarded early in the second half when Damien Sheehan crossed in for Anthony Devin to finish well. The Rovers defence were determined to keep a clean sheet and cleared everything that came into the box. Carlow Rovers killed the game off when they scored a third with Darren McGuill latching on to a Slevin cross turning and blasting to the roof of the net. Best players for Carlow Rovers were Stephen Phelan, new boy Peter Fagan and Gareth McDonald. Best for Fortbarrington was Keith Quinn in the defence, Paul Dwyer and Colm Cuddly in midfield and up front Steven Oldham.

Carlow Rovers 2 2 Burrin Celtic

Celtic came out of the blocks faster with some good attacking play earlier on. It took only five minutes for the visitors to break down a strong Rovers defence with a good passing move that was finished off calmly when Michael O’Leary chipped it past the home keeper to give Celtic the lead. Rovers threatened for the following 15 minutes, but Burrin held out to lead 1-0 at the break. While Celtic started the second half stronger the sides were soon level when they struck back through a free kick when Damien Sheehan put the ball on recruit Gareth McLoughlin head to finish with a bullet header. The goal however seemed to kick the visitors into action again stringing together some good passes one of which ended in Celtic re-taking the lead. A pass from mid field found Gary Percival at the edge of the box. Percival unselfishly found midfielder Chris Bailey who made no mistake from six yards. Burrin Celtic were on top at that stage and should have extended their lead when they got a penalty with 10 minutes to go following a rash tackle on Eddie Tobin in the box. Paul Finn was denied by Murt Phelan in the Carlow Rovers keeper who saved smartly to his right to give the home team a boost. Rovers Capitalised on the missed penalty and drew level with five minutes to go when Darren McGuill playing in Paul Stynes who rounded the keeper and slotted into the net. While Burrin Celtic will feel like they left the three points behind it was it a good battle with each side earning a hard-fought point. Best for Carlow Rovers were Paul Doyle, Gareth McLoughlin and Chris O’ Brien

Village Fc 1 3 Carlow Rovers

Carlow Rovers started of their league campaign where they finished the cup final last weekend with a hard-fought win. The first game of the 2021 season for both teams at Leighlinbridge, was an evenly contested, spirited match, which could have gone either way on the evening. The visitors started the game with the bare eleven but took the game to village and where in front early on when Billy McDonald raided down the right and crossed in for him McGuill to finish close in. A defensive mix up soon after allowed village to equalise when a pinpoint cross from Paul Dunne landed at the feet of Noel Doyle, who coolly slotted home from just outside the box. It remained level at the break. Into the second half and rovers continued to pressurise both wings. A quick free kick by Damien Sheehan played in Billy McDonald who passed across the goal for Eddie Dooley to finish into the bottom corner. On the left-wing McGill played in Damien Sheehan who was fouled in the box. He picked himself up and scored the penalty himself. Best players for Carlow Rovers were Damien Sheehan Billy McDonald and Stephen Phelan. Best for Village FC were Noel Doyle, Mick Nolan, and Liam Walsh

Carlow Rovers 2

Crettyard United 0

Last year’s league runners up slipped up on Saturday night with several players missing due to ongoing ‘A’ team action against a Rovers team keen to keep their good run going.

The game started at a high pace and there were chances for both sides early on. Cretty’s best chance fell to John Graham who just headered over from a Ciaran Hosey cross. Midway through the first half, good pressure by Rory McDonald on the wing saw him pass to Anthony Slevin who beat the keeper from the corner of the box. Cretty tried to up the tempo in the second half but found themselves 2-0 down from a Ronaldoesque free kick from Damian Sheehan. Cretty attacked but Farrell. Rovers soaked up the pressure and counter-attacked through Eddie Dooley and Gavin Cretty had chances through David Maher and Willie Kavanagh but could not find a breakthrough the game ended 2-0 to Carlow Rovers.

Best for Crettyard were Jim Dunne, Keith Nolan and David Maher.

Carlow Rovers 1

Parkville United 0

On a very warm and sunny evening, the pace and intensity of this game was very high, and Rovers started the brighter with their two wingers – Eddie Dooley and Billy McDonald causing mayhem with their string of dangerous crosses into the penalty area.

Some fine play by Billy McDonald laid on a chance for Gavin Farrell, whose shot was saved by the Parkville keeper, but Rory McDonald pounced on the rebound who ‘buried the ball into the roof of the net for 1-0.

Parkville upped their game and looked for an equaliser and they came very close, just before the interval, when Niall Robinson found himself through on goal and whilst his shot beat the Rovers keeper, it hit the crossbar and rebounded to safety and it was 1-0 at half-time.

The second-half was more of the same, with Anthony Slevin getting through on goal but his shot went wide and both teams had a number of chances but couldn’t convert any of them and the game ended with that solitary first-half goal sealing the win for Rovers.

It was a great team effort by Parkville, whilst best for Rovers were ken McDonald, Richie Moore and Damian Byrne.

St Joseph’s 0

Carlow Rovers 2

Joey’s dominated the first half, as Rovers simply couldn’t get out of their own half, but for all of their effort, they couldn’t find a breakthrough and with Rovers keeper – Richie Moore was in excellent form, as he made some great saves to keep it at 0-0, as the interval came.

In the second-half Rovers passing game got going and some great work, saw Billy McDonald crossing from the wing, into Anthony Slevin, but his header didn’t find the net, but they were pressing Joey’s very hard, as they tried to control the game. Anthony Slevin was in great form and he was tormenting the Joey’s defence, which resulted in them conceding a penalty, which was calmly slotted home by Eddie Dooley for 0-1. Some more great work in midfield by Rovers’ Paul Doyle saw him laying the ball off to Damien Sheehan, who took the ball, in his stride and unleashed a Ronaldoesque strike, right into the top corner of the net, to make the final score 0-2 to Rovers.

Best players for Rovers were Paul Doyle, Chris O’Brien and Rory McDonald, whilst it was a fine team performance from Joey’s, in this closely fought game.

Tombrack United 2

Carlow Rovers 3

Rovers started with a bare eleven and came under early pressure from Tombrack, from the start, but Eddie Lyons played in the ball to Padraig Nolan, who laid it on a plate for Rory McDonald to finish to the net for 0-1.

Tombrack replied with a goal from Martin Doyle to leave the score at the interval level at 1-1, with the Rovers defence coping well and Declan Cuddy ‘rolling back the years’ in an excellent performance.

In the second-half a corner led to a goalmouth scramble and Geoff Deering was ’on the spot’ to toe-poke the ball home to regain the lead at 1-2.

Rovers defence held solidly until late on when Damian Byrne played in the ’effervescent’ Padraig Nolan who made it 1-3, however, Tombrack weren’t finished and they pulled another goal back from Wayne Dunne to make it 2-3 and that’s how it finished.

It was a lack-lustre performance from Tombrack and standing out for Rovers were Geoff Deering, Keelan Delaney and Richie Moore in goal.

Carlow Rovers 2

Parkville United 4

On a windy evening for football this was an evenly contested affair.

Rovers started the match strong with the wind behind them, they came close to opening the scoring a few times. After 15 minutes gone against the run of play Ray Shannon crossed the ball to Martin Fitzgerald whose shot from outside the box found the Rovers net to make it 1-0. Rovers upped their tempo for the remainder of the half and got one goal back with a great move that started from their keeper, worked down the right wing and a deep cross from Eddie O’Reilly was headed home by Joe Redmond. Straight from the kick off Robbie Sheridan and Martin Fitzgerald took control of midfield creating some great passages of play. A Ray Shannon cross this time found Nicholas Nolan who chipped the Rovers keeper making the half time score 2-1.

With the second half starting Parkville created some great opportunities of play on both wings. Parkville won a throw in which Nicholas Nolan crossed the ball for Ray Shannon to finish with a great header to the back of the Rovers net. Parkville went 4-1 up when a Nicholas Nolan cross was spilled by the Rovers keeper and resulting with the ball ending up in the back of the net. Rovers created several good chances in the remaining 20 minutes but were not getting much luck in front of goal. A Dermot McDonald shot destined for the bottom corner was well blocked by the last defender, an Eddie O'Reilly header went a yard wide and a couple of penalty shouts were turned away. Rovers finally got their second with 5 minutes left when a Damien Sheehan cross was volleyed home by Billy McDonald. The last chance of the game fell to Eddie O’Reilly, but the Parkville keeper saved well in a one on one situation.

Carlow Rovers 2

St Fiacc’s FC 0

On a perfect evening for the opening of the Seniors season, this was a very tight affair between these two sides, with the opening goal going to be crucial to the outcome.

St Fiacc’s started the stronger and had Rovers under a lot of pressure but Richie Moore – Rovers keeper made two good, early saves from Brian Pearson and Jamie Payne. Rovers rear-guard were solid enough, showing great resilience with Jeff Deering and Chris O’Brien standing out. Richie Moore made a triple save to deny St Fiacc’s which was the pick of his display and then just before half-time, both sides hit a post, Brian Pearson for St Fiacc’s and Billy McDonald for Rovers, as the interval came with a 0-0 score-line.

Rovers took control of the second – half as Fiacc’s seemed to tire and this allowed more space for Rovers and they exploited this, as Damien Sheehan came to the fore and Rovers got their passing game going. On 50 minutes, Sheehan showed his class, as he rode two tackles and hit a pin-point pass to Anthony Slevin, who turned his marker and hit an unstoppable shot into the top left corner of the net, from 25 yards for a vital 1-0 lead.

Fiacc’s pushed hard, in search of an equaliser, but Rovers defended doggedly to keep them out and then on 60 minutes they scored a deserved second, when a throw-in from the left found Joe Redmond, who found his strike partner – Eddie O’Reilly, who skipped past two defenders and then the keeper, for a tap in and a 2-0 lead.

It was a great all-round team performance from Rovers who utilised their bench very well at crucial times of the game with Philip Nolan and Richie Moore standing out, with Chris O’Brien putting in a man of the match performance. For St Fiacc’s it was a good all-round team performance as they battled to the end, but it just wasn’t their day.

Baltinglass Town 2

Carlow Rovers

Although Rovers fielded a strong team for this Cup-tie and had the lion’s share of possession, they went behind to Baltinglass when they conceded an own goal via a wicked deflection for 1-0.

Rovers regrouped but they failed to create any chances and the score was 1-0 at half-time.

Rovers pushed forward in the second half but conceded when Declan Faulkner scored to make it 2-0. Rovers came close when Barry Purcell had a snap-shot that grazed a post and they won a penalty but this also hit a post to leave them scoreless.

Padraig Nolan who celebrated his 50th Birthday today tried hard up front but he didn’t get the birthday present that he wanted as Baltinglass saw out the game and progress to the final.

Best for Baltinglass were Alan Roberts, Aidan Gannon and Ken Donegan and standing out for Rovers were Barry Purcell, Damien Sheehan and Richie Moore.

Carlow Rovers 1

Castle Rangers 2

Rovers started brightly with Billy McDonald combining with Noel Purcell to deliver cross after dangerous cross into the Rangers box, but only one was converted when Anthony Slevin beat his marker and fired home to give Rovers a 1-0 lead.

Rangers kept Rovers substitute keeper Damien Sheehan busy but he kept them at bay and it was 1-0 at the interval, with Rovers having to face the elements in the second-half.

Rangers put Rovers under huge pressure, but they stood firm until near the end when they conceded two quick goals to give Rangers a 1-2 lead and despite coming close on a couple of occasions that’s how it ended.

Best for Rovers were Paddy McDonald, Anthony Slevin and Padraig McGrath, whilst it was a good, all-round team performance from Rangers

Carlow Rovers 0

Castle Rangers 2

This was a cut and thrust game between two evenly matched sides and it was Rangers who took an early lead when Paul Core scored when he latched on to a long throw from Trevor Power for 0-1.

A few minutes later Rangers went close again as Noel O’Reilly hit the bar from a free-kick, but then Rovers started to dominate, but they failed to convert chances that fell to Joe Redmond, Anthony Slevin and Barry Purcell and it was that solitary goal that separated the teams at half-time.

The second half was a real pulsating game, as both sides went hell for leather to win the game, both sides playing end to end football with both sides creating chances but not taking them. Right at the end in injury time Rangers killed the tie off as Paul Core collected a pass and chipped Rovers keeper Richie Moore from 30 yards for a 0-2 victory.

Best for Rovers were Padraig McGrath, Ken McDonald, Jeff Deering and Owen Keating, while it was a fine team performance from Rangers.

Burrin Celtic continue to make a push for the First division title and are now five points behind Crettyard United after seeing off Carlow Rovers at The Valley, Ballon on Friday night.

Facing the sort of windy conditions that The Valley is known for, Carlow Rovers were on the back foot early on as Alan Kelly struck for the home side after six minutes. Rovers ‘defence managed to hold the Burrin attack at bay until just before the half-time break when Kelly played in Paddy Byrne and he struck to make it 2-0 at the break.

Rovers pushed on for a goal in the second half and they got it from a set piece as an Eddie Lyons free kick was volleyed in by Damian Byrne. The town side continued to push on for a goal to give them the equaliser and Barry Purcell came close. The visitors left themselves open in the back and Burrin capitalised on their open play to score three goals. The first saw some fine individual play from Conor Dooley as he set up Byrne for his second goal. They made it 4-1 when Byrne secured his hat-trick and Byrne struck again in the final minutes to cap off a fine individual performance after some good play by Fergus Farrell, Colie Darcy and Marcin Bieniasz.

Padraig Nolan came close for the visitors near the end but he couldn’t turn in Byrne’s cross to lessen the deficit.

Despite the loss it was a good team performance overall for Rovers as they look to avoid the drop.

A depleted Rovers side took on strong Dublin opposition, starting with only ten and they went down to nine, when Jonathan Kenny suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital by a colleague, with concussion.

Rovers took the lead when Kealan Delaney slotted home a fine pass from Padraig McGrath, however, Raheny quickly equalised, before Rovers again took the lead when Jonathan Kenny scored from a ‘monster’ free-kick from inside his own half for 2-1.

Raheny upped the tempo and came back with a two-goal quick-fire salvo to take a 2-3 lead into half-time.

In the second-half, Raheny scored two more goals for a 2-5 lead and despite Rovers putting up a gallant performance, there was no way back for them, although Anthony Slevin and Podge had chances to score, they were spurned.

Best for Rovers were Barry Purcell, Philip Nolan, Owen Keating and Paddy Stynes.