Cretty prepare to defend crown
Tuesday August 24 2010
THE DRIVE for Carlow soccer titles gets under way this weekend with the opening of the 2010/'11 league campaign.
The start of the league may have been deferred for a week at the request of club's, but Premier Division sides face a hectic start to the new campaign with two games inside the space of 48 hours.
Last year saw many surprises as the league progressed, with the race for the Premier Division title proving quite interesting right up to the final weeks.
This season should be no differed and one will get a better opportunity to assess the sides following this weekends series of games. Crettyard Utd are always league specialists and it should be no different on this occasion. They open their league campaign this Friday evening with an away game against Hanover Harps, a side that could very well be in the shake-up for title honours come the end of the season. Another attractive side is New Oak who have a home opening fixture against Ridge Rangers, when they will be confident of collecting three points. Stretford Utd more renowned for their cup exploits are looking confidently towards the new league campaign and figuring in the title race. They have a difficult enough opening game away to Kilree Celtic, a side whose displays will be closely monitored as the league progresses. Bagenalstown are a side that could provide tough opposition should they have their full squad together for the crucial opening series of games. They should be a little too good for Castle Rangers and it will be a surprise if they fail to collect their first three away points. On Sunday the big game will be clash of New Oak and Bagenalstown, while Crettyard Utd will be at home to Castle Rangers.
Tullow side Parkville Utd are a side that can always be depended on to make a league challenge get their season under way with an away game to Nurney Villa, while there is also an attractive all town derby game involving Stretford Utd and Hanover Harps.
There will also be a full programme of Division 1 games on Sunday, while the Whites Pharmacy Division and Evening Herald Division will also commence. ends
