The Kilkenny & District League Premier Division returned last weekend with eight teams going in search of their first points of the season. This season will be campaign with a difference as for the first time 10 teams will fight it out in Kilkenny's top tier each weekend after a summer of league re-structuring by Kilkenny & District League Secretary (KDL) Michael Coughlan. On Saturday night, Fort Rangers began life back in the Premier Division with a 3-1 win over Evergreen B on the Fair Green. The Cuffesgrange team held the fixture in the city ground due to upgrade works in their usual home. After a first half that couldn't deliver a goal, Emmet Nugent found his shooting boots in the second half netting an impressive hat-trick. Adrian Cleere did pull back a goal for Evergreen B on the 85th minute but it proved to be too little, too late. Elsewhere, last year's runners-up Freebooters failed to begin the new campaign with win as Deen Celtic held them to a 1-1 in the Prince Grounds. The 'Comer outfit played without the ball for much of the game, holding a 1-0 lead courtesy of Steven Daly from the eighth until the 81st minute. However, the experienced David Rice popped up with a late towering header to rescue a point for the blues. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Freebooters FC (@freebooters) Bridge Utd, many people's dark horses for the Premier Division kicked off the new season with a 2-0 home win over Newpark. Carlos Lohinski Llanos was influential in more ways than one, creating and scoring a goal. Some quick thinking from a Conor English corner opened up an avenue for Carlos to score in the 11th minute, with Carlos setting up Eoin Kavanagh for the game's second goal on the hour mark. However, one minor set-back for Bridge Utd was the sending off of Michael Brennan who picked up his second yellow card on the 87th minute. Meanwhile, it was 'seven heaven' for Evergreen who put Thomastown Utd to the sword, winning 7-1 in Evergreen Park. Mikey Drennan gave the home side the lead in the 39th minute. Jimmy Maher drew the away team level four minutes into the second half. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Evergreen FC (@evergreen_fc) However, it was downhill from there for the visitors as the floodgates opened. Dean Cornally, Dean Broaders, Killian Dolan, a brace from Mikey Clifford and Andrew Wall all netted. FOR MORE KILKENNY SOCCER NEWS, CLICK HERE