The St Canice’s Credit Union Premier Division returned for the second round of fixtures of 2025/26 last weekend with four games down for decision. After a lengthy spell away from Kilkenny’s top tier, Newpark welcomed league giants and defending champions Evergreen to their home grounds, while Lions, Deen Celtic and Thomastown Utd all went in search of their first wins. Thomastown Utd have had the most difficult start of any club to the campaign, conceding 12 goals in their first two matches. READ NEXT: 'It's very gratifying' - Jack Charlton receives a warm welcome to Kilkenny (1994) After shipping seven to Evergreen on matchday one, Fort Rangers put five past the struggling defence on their home turf on Sunday morning. A brace of goals from the in-form Emmet Nugent, who moves on to five goals for the season as well as two netted finishes from Eddie Nugent and a Cian Grace goal left little doubt who was on top by the call of time. The home side’s woes were compounded by the sending off of Kasper Konopka for two yellow card offences as supporters at the United Park venue were left with little to cheer about. The Grennan outfit will be hoping their fortunes can turn around when they host Callan Utd this weekend. Fort Rangers’ home encounter with Evergreen is the only other scheduled Premier Division match of the weekend. Elsewhere, Newpark FC welcomed the champions to the fortress that is 'The Bog' in what proved to be a highly competitive contest. The only goal of the game arrived just before the half hour mark. Michael Broaders delivered a crisp ball to Mikey Drennan, with the former League Of Ireland player not needing a second invitation to score. Newpark did manage to pin Evergreen in to their own defence in periods of the second half, with some chances making the away side sweat. There was drama right up until the full-time whistle with a sending off to Newpark’s Lee Costello followed closely by an effort for the home side that came crashing off the crossbar to end any hopes of an equaliser. Bridge Utd made it two wins from two for the new season with a comfortable 4-1 home win over newly promoted Lions. But the Goresbridge outfit were ruthless in putting any notions of a romantic opening match win for the Durrow side to bed early on. Eoin Kavanagh had Conor English’s team 3-0 up by the 16th minute, the first netted finish set up by a lovely ball from the player/manager English in what was a blistering start. Conor English made it four by the 48th minute but to the Lions’ credit, they never allowed the floodgates to open and pulled back a late consolation goal from long range courtesy of Darragh Kelly to at least putt a gloss on the result. Meanwhile, Evergreen B recorded their first win of the season, dismissing Deen Celtic 4-1, with the 'Comer outfit no doubt disappointed not to build on their noteworthy draw with Freebooters a week earlier. Two John Nolan goals put the city club 2-0 up by the 40th minute. Harry Cummins could have extended the lead from the penalty spot at the beginning of the second half but failed to convert the opportunity. Patrick Downey pulled back a goal for Deen Celtic with 19 minutes to play but an own-goal plus a late Harry Moore goal secured the win. FOR MORE KILKENNY SOCCER NEWS, CLICK HERE