THE Nationalist Premier Division is down for decision tonight and by 8.30pm, we will know the 2023/2024 champions.
It’s been a long season and it goes down to the very last game in the tightest league since 2019 when New Oak beat Crettyard in a play-off. New Oak are vying for a fourth title in a row tonight when they face St. Pat’s Boys at the Burrin Road knowing that a win will see them crowned champions once again.
Crettyard are the only ones to take points off New Oak at the Burrin Road so far this season in the league but St. Pat’s drew 1-1 against them a few weeks ago at The Meadows and were minutes away from being the only team to beat them this season, which makes it an intriguing contest.
Anything less than a win will see New Oak’s arch rivals, Crettyard crowned champions instead for the first time since 2017. Cristoir Maher has done a fantastic job in re galvanising Crettyard this season after a tough few years to the point where they’ve lost just one game all season, against New Oak in Killeen a few weeks ago. He’s got a lot of local players back and got a good structure to the team and they’ve been very hard to beat. Defensively, they’ve been solid, only conceding 12 goals all season, but they’ve struggled going forward, evident in the amount of 1-0 wins they’ve had this season.
Either New Oak Boys or Crettyard will be crowned The Nationalist Premier Division champions this evening
Photo: Michael O’Rourke
New Oak have been a dominant force though since the start of the Gavin Dowling era and the former ‘keeper has whipped them into shape and has made them one of the strongest teams in Carlow and indeed Leinster. Defensively solid, they often field the same back five and then the creativity of Dean Kelly and Jordan Harmon in the middle provides goals, which makes them a huge threat. Only a penalty shoot-out in the Shield final has seen New Oak’s stronghold on Carlow loosen slightly this season with the back to back quadruple champions being dethroned.
Crettyard had been leading the way for a while as New Oak had games cancelled and postponed on top of involvement in outside competitions saw them constantly chasing. They got to a point where the New Oak/Crettyard clash felt like it would be important in terms of who would walk away as champions and with New Oak winning, it put them in prime position and needed 10 points from 12 to win. After slipping up with a 2-2 draw against Bagenalstown, they had to win their final three games to be crowned champions. They have two wins so far, and it comes down to the final game.
If New Oak win, they will get the trophy tonight, if they slip up, Crettyard will be crowned champions after their Premier Cup Quarter-Final against New Oak on Sunday. If Crettyard win, it will be the first time since 2018 when Hanover won, that somebody other than New Oak has been crowned champion. New Oak are able to field a strong 11 tonight having a full squad and no suspensions finally and will be very difficult to beat but St. Pat’s will be bolstered by the fact that they were the team to break New Oak’s 60 match unbeaten streak last season. Whatever happens tonight, there have been plenty of twists and turns in the tale already and it’s safe to say that there will be a few more tonight.
By Harry Shorthose
