Carlisle City boss hits back in Penrith derby fall-out
The midweek Northern League Division One derby at Gillford Park saw Penrith come from behind to win 2-1.
City manager Kirkup felt his side were unfortunate to lose an 'evenly-matched' contest.
And he claimed some of the post-match actions of Darren Edmondson's opponents left a sour taste.
'I'm pretty disappointed with Penrith's conduct after the game,' said Kirkup.
'I thought they went a bit over the top, the way they were smashing on our door at the end.
'Some of Darren's quotes that I've seen are a bit over the top as well. I think he might have been at a different game to what I was watching.
'Suggesting they absolutely battered us and they were fitter than us…I thought it was quite disrespectful. If he was looking for a reaction, he can have one.
'This comes after I've helped Darren and his team out a lot this year, with my north east connections – so many scouting reports I've given them. I know we're rivals, but I think you owe that to each other, being neighbours in the area.'
Edmondson said his side were "comfortable winners" despite the narrow scoreline and felt his team's fitness told in the closing stages
Penrith have done the double over City in the league but there remains the possibility they could meet again before the end of the 2024/25 campaign.
Both clubs are in the semi-finals of the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup, with City hoping to get past Cleator Moor Celtic and Penrith facing Aspatria.
Kirkup says another encounter in the final could be 'tasty' and a chance for his side to have the final say.
'I said to our boys, 'Just remember that feeling – remember them smashing your door down'.
'Football has a funny way of biting you in the backside. We've both got tough Cumberland Cup semi-finals to play away from home, but I hope we can both win them and meet in the final.
'There's a few little memories from Tuesday night I think I'll remember, and I hope the boys can remember.
'It could be a tasty final if we both did get there. It would be an interesting one, to say the least.'
Tuesday's derby saw a Kevin McKenna own-goal put City in front before late strikes by Penrith subs Kingsley Grandison and James Bell turn things around for Penrith.
Kirkup said: 'It was a good game for the area, a decent crowd and it was a good advertisement for non-league football.
'There were two pretty evenly matched teams, good teams going at it and having a right battle.
'Unfortunately, we just came out on the wrong side of it at the last kick of the game, which is an awful way to lose the game. From Penrith's point of view, a great way to win the game.
'I thought we were really unlucky, I thought we played well for 60-70 minutes and were in control of the game and Penrith finished really strongly.
'There's no doubt that they finished the last ten minutes strongly. We were hanging on at that stage but I felt a point would have been fair over the whole game.'
City, who are 17th while Penrith sit 15th, have another Cumbrian derby this weekend when they host Kendal Town on Saturday.
The south Cumbrians are currently eighth amid their first season in the Northern League following last summer's controversial move from the North West Counties League by the Football Association.
Kirkup said: 'They're probably the team I know the least about in the league, with most of my connections are from the north east.
'They're pretty new to the league and they're up and down in form. It'll be a tough game, no doubt about that. And a game we need to bounce back quickly from Tuesday.'
Kirkup also hailed the three teenage Carlisle United loanees who all figured for City against Penrith.
Freddie O'Donoghue, Josh O'Brien and Trent Chapman were all in the side.
'Trent on the right was absolutely fantastic and gave us loads of energy, and Josh came in for his first game in five months after injury – I think he was lagging a bit in the last ten minutes, but he was brilliant,' said Kirkup.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- Washington Post
The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. hits 100th homer, joining some select company in MLB history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bobby Witt Jr. knew the ball was gone the moment it left his bat. Only later did the young Kansas City Royals star realize what kind of company it allowed him to join. The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory . It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth. But it also was the 100th career homer for Witt, making him the youngest in franchise history to reach that mark. He made it at the age of 25 years, 66 days, faster than Carlos Beltran when he accomplished it during the 2003 season. 'I want him up there every inning,' Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. 'I mean, you look at the lineup and you're trying to figure out, 'How many times can we get to the plate? How many guys can we keep on base for him when he does come to the plate?' 'I mean, that's an immense amount of pressure on a younger player to understand that's how everybody feels about him,' Quatraro said. 'But he has the physical ability, the makeup and the mental capacity to handle it.' The latest no-doubt shot, which came off Texas reliever Cole Winn and landed an estimated 449 feet to dead center field, made Witt only the fourth player with at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases through his first four big league seasons. The others are Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds — some pretty select company. Witt also become one of six shortstops in the last 95 years to hit at least 100 homers through his age-25 seasons. That list of luminaries includes Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr., Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Hanley Ramirez; of those players, only Rodriguez and Ramirez also had 100 steals by the time they were 25 years old. 'It was special,' Witt admitted, 'just seeing the kind of names on the list or whatever they showed. But now, it's just kind of on to the next. It was special. We enjoy it. And now it's just onto the next game.' They keep getting more important for the Royals, who have won five straight and seven of their last eight. They head into the third-game of their four-game set against the Rangers on Wednesday night with a chance to inch closer to a wild-card spot, and they proved last year that they could do some postseason damage if they can only get in. Witt continues to be the catalyst of their second-half surge, too. He's hitting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs. 'It's special when he goes out there,' said the Royals' Seth Lugo, who allowed just two runs on three hits while pitching into the seventh inning Tuesday night. 'I've been saying it for two years: He goes about his business the same way. He doesn't get up or down on himself. He's a master of consistency. That's what he does.' Witt also happens to be a slick fielder with a Gold Glove in his trophy case. But at the plate is where Witt has become a bona fide star. He led the majors with a .332 average last year, when he hit 32 home runs, stole 31 bases and finished with 109 RBIs. And while he may not quite replicate the average, homer total or RBI numbers in this campaign, he already has 32 stolen bases while getting caught just seven times. 'There's not too many guys that get to 100 (homers),' said Vinnie Pasquantino, who also homered Tuesday night. 'And the fourth player in MLB history with 100 stolen bases? It's not a list I'll ever be on. I mean, it's kind of unbelievable. 'He's one of the best players in the league for a reason,' Pasquantino said. 'A superstar.' ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. hits 100th homer, joining some select company in MLB history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. knew the ball was gone the moment it left his bat. Only later did the young Kansas City Royals star realize what kind of company it allowed him to join. The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth. But it also was the 100th career homer for Witt, making him the youngest in franchise history to reach that mark. He made it at the age of 26 years, 66 days, or more than a year earlier than Carlos Beltran when he accomplished it during the 2003 season. 'I want him up there every inning,' Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "I mean, you look at the lineup and you're trying to figure out, 'How many times can we get to the plate? How many guys can we keep on base for him when he does come to the plate?' 'I mean, that's an immense amount of pressure on a younger player to understand that's how everybody feels about him," Quatraro said. "But he has the physical ability, the makeup and the mental capacity to handle it.' The latest no-doubt shot, which came off Texas reliever Cole Winn and landed an estimated 449 feet to dead center field, made Witt only the fourth player with at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases through his first four big league seasons. The others are Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds — some pretty select company. Witt also become one of six shortstops in the last 95 years to hit at least 100 homers through his age-25 seasons. That list of luminaries includes Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr., Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Hanley Ramirez; of those players, only Rodriguez and Ramirez also had 100 steals by the time they were 25 years old. 'It was special,' Witt admitted, 'just seeing the kind of names on the list or whatever they showed. But now, it's just kind of on to the next. It was special. We enjoy it. And now it's just onto the next game.' They keep getting more important for the Royals, who have won five straight and seven of their last eight. They head into the third-game of their four-game set against the Rangers on Wednesday night with a chance to inch closer to a wild-card spot, and they proved last year that they could do some postseason damage if they can only get in. Witt continues to be the catalyst of their second-half surge, too. He's hitting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs. 'It's special when he goes out there,' said the Royals' Seth Lugo, who allowed just two runs on three hits while pitching into the seventh inning Tuesday night. 'I've been saying it for two years: He goes about his business the same way. He doesn't get up or down on himself. He's a master of consistency. That's what he does.' Witt also happens to be a slick fielder with a Gold Glove in his trophy case. But at the plate is where Witt has become a bona fide star. He led the majors with a .332 average last year, when he hit 32 home runs, stole 31 bases and finished with 109 RBIs. And while he may not quite replicate the average, homer total or RBI numbers in this campaign, he already has 32 stolen bases while getting caught just seven times. 'There's not too many guys that get to 100 (homers),' said Vinnie Pasquantino, who also homered Tuesday night. "And the fourth player in MLB history with 100 stolen bases? It's not a list I'll ever be on. I mean, it's kind of unbelievable. 'He's one of the best players in the league for a reason," Pasquantino said. 'A superstar.' ___ AP MLB: Dave Skretta, The Associated Press
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Royals' Bobby Witt Jr. hits 100th homer, joining some select company in MLB history
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Bobby Witt Jr. knew the ball was gone the moment it left his bat. Only later did the young Kansas City Royals star realize what kind of company it allowed him to join. The two-run shot in the eighth inning against Texas on Tuesday night merely padded the lead for Kansas City, which went on to a 5-2 victory. It was the fifth straight win for the Royals, who closed to within 2 1/2 games of an AL wild-card berth. But it also was the 100th career homer for Witt, making him the youngest in franchise history to reach that mark. He made it at the age of 26 years, 66 days, or more than a year earlier than Carlos Beltran when he accomplished it during the 2003 season. 'I want him up there every inning,' Royals manager Matt Quatraro said. "I mean, you look at the lineup and you're trying to figure out, 'How many times can we get to the plate? How many guys can we keep on base for him when he does come to the plate?' 'I mean, that's an immense amount of pressure on a younger player to understand that's how everybody feels about him," Quatraro said. "But he has the physical ability, the makeup and the mental capacity to handle it.' The latest no-doubt shot, which came off Texas reliever Cole Winn and landed an estimated 449 feet to dead center field, made Witt only the fourth player with at least 100 homers and 100 stolen bases through his first four big league seasons. The others are Julio Rodríguez, Darryl Strawberry and Bobby Bonds — some pretty select company. Witt also become one of six shortstops in the last 95 years to hit at least 100 homers through his age-25 seasons. That list of luminaries includes Alex Rodriguez, Cal Ripken Jr., Francisco Lindor, Carlos Correa and Hanley Ramirez; of those players, only Rodriguez and Ramirez also had 100 steals by the time they were 25 years old. 'It was special,' Witt admitted, 'just seeing the kind of names on the list or whatever they showed. But now, it's just kind of on to the next. It was special. We enjoy it. And now it's just onto the next game.' They keep getting more important for the Royals, who have won five straight and seven of their last eight. They head into the third-game of their four-game set against the Rangers on Wednesday night with a chance to inch closer to a wild-card spot, and they proved last year that they could do some postseason damage if they can only get in. Witt continues to be the catalyst of their second-half surge, too. He's hitting .291 with 18 homers and 69 RBIs. 'It's special when he goes out there,' said the Royals' Seth Lugo, who allowed just two runs on three hits while pitching into the seventh inning Tuesday night. 'I've been saying it for two years: He goes about his business the same way. He doesn't get up or down on himself. He's a master of consistency. That's what he does.' Witt also happens to be a slick fielder with a Gold Glove in his trophy case. But at the plate is where Witt has become a bona fide star. He led the majors with a .332 average last year, when he hit 32 home runs, stole 31 bases and finished with 109 RBIs. And while he may not quite replicate the average, homer total or RBI numbers in this campaign, he already has 32 stolen bases while getting caught just seven times. 'There's not too many guys that get to 100 (homers),' said Vinnie Pasquantino, who also homered Tuesday night. "And the fourth player in MLB history with 100 stolen bases? It's not a list I'll ever be on. I mean, it's kind of unbelievable. 'He's one of the best players in the league for a reason," Pasquantino said. 'A superstar.' ___ AP MLB:
