Latest news with #Kirkup
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle City boss reacts to Fred Conway Cumberland Cup triumph
Carlisle City boss Dan Kirkup said it was a rewarding feeling to have won the Fred Conway Cumberland Cup. City got the better of Northern League Division One rivals Penrith by winning the final 1-0 at Brunton Park. Jordan Irving's impressive goal secured the 2024/25 trophy for City as Kirkup's first season in charge ended with silverware. The delighted manager told the News & Star: 'I thought it was a really tight game – everything we expected to be fair. 'The two league games have been so tight and we were due a little bit of the rub of the green to go for us. 'I thought we were the better team. We had the better chances. Like I said last time they beat us, karma always comes back to bite you in football and it certainly did here. 'I'm really pleased for the boys. Everyone put a shift in. Fair play to Penrith, they gave as good as they got and matched us all the way. 'I'm really happy. It's what you play for in football, isn't it – end of season cup finals like this? We had our cup final and we've come out on top.' READ MORE: Match report from Carlisle City's county cup final victory against Penrith Penrith had good first half chances before City came on stronger after the break – and man-of-the-match Irving then struck the decisive blow with a superb strike from the left that dipped over opposition keeper Aaran Taylor. 'I said at half time there was going to be one goal in it – it was really nip and tick and I felt it was going to take a mistake or something a little bit special,' added Kirkup. 'We got that special something from Jordan Irving which won us the game. 'I don't think we came under too much pressure in the last ten minutes. I was expecting the kitchen sink to come at us like it did in the home game in the league, but it didn't, really. 'I thought we coped with what got thrown at us pretty well.' City got the better of Penrith to lift the trophy (Image: Barbara Abbott) City grew stronger as the game went on and Kirkup said a change of approach after the break helped his side win the cup for the first time since 2022. 'Callum Birdsall started the game after having not played for four weeks – he wasn't fit, he played on pretty much one leg but I wanted him there, he's our main man and I thought if we had a chance of winning we need him there,' said Kirkup. 'But actually when he went off [early in the second half] I thought we turned into a little bit of a better team because we put a bit more pace up front and I thought we really hurt them with balls in behind, rather than going into Callum which I think they were quite comfortable with. Fred Conway Cumberland Cup final - as it happened! 'They were big lads at the back and I don't think they like [opponents] running in behind. 'Credit to everyone, I'm pleased for everyone at the football club. It's been a tough season, there's no getting away from that in the league. 'We had our cup final and it sort of papers over a creaky season. But if you'd asked me at the start of the season if we could finish where we did [18th] and win a cup I would have snapped your hand off.' On the cup success after his first campaign in charge after succeeding Jim Nichols at the City helm, Kirkup said: 'Some people in management never really win a thing, so to win a major competition like this is really pleasing. 'It's for everyone at the club. There's a lot of unseen work behind the scenes – the players sometimes just have to turn up and play and they don't appreciate what goes into it. 'Nights like that are for the people who run the club and they'll enjoy it.'
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Rivals Carlisle City and Penrith reach final of Cumberland Cup
Carlisle City and Penrith will meet in the final of this season's Fred Conway Cumberland Cup. Both sides came through battling away semi-finals to to book their place in the county senior cup showpiece. City needed extra-time to get past Cleator Moor Celtic while fellow Northern League club Penrith came from behind to defeat Aspatria. Both semi-finals were played on Saturday afternoon with City indebted to manager Dan Kirkup for their progress. He scored the extra-time winner to clinch a 2-1 win. Kirkup had come off the bench and found the net in the second half of extra-time to separate the teams in west Cumbria. Keiron Blair had put City ahead late in the first half of normal time before Cleator Moor levelled soon after the break courtesy of Luke Close. Kirkup introduced himself from the bench in the 78th minute and went on to get the decisive goal in the closing stages of extra-time. GOAL: Cleator Moor Celtic 1-2 CARLISLE CITY - Daniel Kirkup (104') — Carlisle City FC Official (@CarlisleCityFC) March 15, 2025 That saw City join Penrith in the final after Darren Edmondson's side were made to work hard to get past Aspatria. The hosts took an early lead at St Mungo's Park through Andrew Trestianu, but Penrith hit back in the second half with goals from Kingsley Grandison, Matty Moynan and Luke Hunter. GOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLL Superb free kick from Kingsley Grandison 1-1#bonnyblues @bbccumbriasport — Penrith_AFC (@penrith_afc) March 15, 2025 It will be the first meeting of Carlisle City and Penrith in the final since 2006. City will be aiming to win the trophy they last lifted in 2022, while Penrith are aiming to win the county cup for the first time since 2010. Penrith have won both league meetings between the clubs this season, while there could be extra spice in the final after post-match comments by the respective managers following Penrith's 2-1 win at City in February. Kirkup said he was "disappointed" with Penrith's post-match behaviour, saying City's opponents were "smashing on our door" whilst also accusing Edmondson of "disrespectful" comments about the game when the Penrith chief said his side were "comfortable" winners and highlighted his team's fitness and work-rate. Kirkup, after that game, said: "Football has a funny way of biting you in the backside. It could be a tasty final if we both did get there. It would be an interesting one, to say the least.' The date and venue for the final are yet to be announced.
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Carlisle City boss hits back in Penrith derby fall-out
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.
