Carlisle City boss hits back in Penrith derby fall-out

Yahoo

26-02-2025

Carlisle City boss Dan Kirkup says he hopes his side can have the last laugh on Penrith after declaring himself disappointed in some of their post-match 'conduct'.
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.