IT Carlow secure CUFL Premier League Crown

IT Carlow secured their fourth CUFL Premier Division crown with a hard fought 3-2 win over UL during Tuesday’s decider in Athlone.

Cabinteely striker Shane Barnes scored a brace after Wexford FC’s Danny Doyle’s opener put the Leinster outfit into a three-one lead.

Ed O’Dwyer and Conor Whittle were unable to bridge the deficit as Tom Elmes became the first person to win the title as both a player and manager with Carlow.

There was plenty of current League of Ireland talent on show during Tuesday evenings final at the Athlone Town Stadium, with no less than five players on the IT Carlow side currently plying their trade in the First Division.

Sean Hurley, Liam McCartan, Dean Kelly, Danny Doyle and Shane Barnes were all named in Tom Elmes starting eleven.

UL on the other hand had no current League of Ireland players within their starting eleven but Ian Fletcher, once of Longford and Athlone Town played his part in the midland’s showdown.

On the game itself, IT Carlow took an early lead through Doyle before Barnes doubled their advantage soon after.

UL halved the deficit through O’Dwyer but Barnes all but secured Carlow’s win before Whittle tried to set up a grandstand finish but no avail.

Speaking after the game, IT Carlow boss Tom Elmes reflected upon his delight having secured the college’s fourth CUFL Premier Division crown.

“We played it the way it was. We got on the scoresheet early and we just had to manage that really well.

“Apart from a five- or ten-minute spell we managed the game really well and I think we were the stronger side.

“There’s a lot of players who are in their fourth year of college and these are days that you will remember.”    

IT Carlow: Kowalczyk, O’Reilly, Coleman, Manley, Murphy (McCarthy 87), McDaid (Birrane 60), McCartan, Kelly, Doyle, Barnes (Nolan 90), Hurley

UL: McCormack, Doherty, Madigan (Whittle HT), Fletcher, McCallion, Lynch, Hayes (Patterson 82), O’Dwyer, O’Connell (Foley HT), Cocerhan (McSweeney 58), Murphy (Kelly 85).