Page 20 - Callan United 50th Anniversary Yearbook 2018/19

The McCalmont

T H E R O L L O F H O N O U R

Freebooters are top of the pile with 15 McCalmont Cup title to their
name.

The Blues, who won their first title back in 1955, are two clear of
their city rivals Evergreen, the only team to lift the title three times in
succession (1997-1999).

The city’s big two have dominated the competition, with 28 title wins
between them, even more so in recent years. Freebooters won their
eighth title in 1992 – they had to wait until 2000 to add number nine,
but have won the cup six more times in the following 14 years.

Evergreen’s best spell of dominance came with four titles in the

1990s, but between them the clubs have all but owned the trophy
since 2006 – the Lions brought the trophy out of the city, a result
which has been mirrored in recent seasons by Callan United (2012)
and Thomastown United (2016). Fellow city side Newpark became
the first team in 17 years to become first-time winners when they
beat Brookville in the 2013 final.

It’s not just Kilkenny teams who have lifted the Cup either. Although
Durrow’s Lions are double winners, there are some other unusual
names etched on the roll of honour – famed Dublin club Bohemians
were the first winners in 1937. Other ‘outside’ clubs who have also
secured the silverware include Carlow’s Barrow Rangers (1964) and
Tipperary’s Thurles (1969).