Joe's Bar RDFL Challenge Cup Final Preview

Next Sunday at the League Grounds, Lecarrow cup holders St. Peter's FC take on Moore United in the all South Roscommon final of the Joe's Bar sponsored Roscommon & District League Challenge Cup. While St. Peter's were always fancied to reach the final few could have foreseen Moore United as their opponents in the final. After a poor start to the season Moore United under manager David Cummins steadily improved as the season went on and did pull off a good result in the semi final when they beat Boyle Celtic following a penalty shoot out. Moore United finished in seventh place in the Premier Division while St. Peter's retained the Premier Division Championship.

Moore United started their campaign with a 2 – 0 win away to fellow Premier Division side Dysart after receiving a bye in the previous round. Andy Nevin scored both goals against Dysart. Their next game was away to another Premier side Kilkerrin United. In a tight game Moore came out on top on a 2 – 1 scoreline. Mark Butler and Charles Nevin scored their goals. Their Semi-Final win over Boyle Celtic, while unexpected was none the less deserved. They defended well and relied on the two Nevin Brothers to get the goals on the break. While their leading goal scorer Andy Nevin scored two and Shane Pettit one for Moore they had to rely on their excellent penalty takers including goal keeper Aidan McManus to secure a place in the final. However this game may prove costly as they will be without the experienced Paul Kelly and Ronan Keogh in the final as both received red cards after two bookings each.

St. Peter's have a strong panel of players and will go into this game as firm favourites to win. Their manager Padraig Moran will be well aware of the strengths of Moore United as he was their manager up to the end of last season. While being beaten recently by Ballymoe FC in the Premier Division Cup they only lost one of their sixteen League games. After receiving a bye in the first round they beat Division One champions Moylough 2 – 1 at Moylough in their first game. Michael Lee and a Darragh Concannon penalty kick saw them through to the quarter finals. There they had a home game against Skyvalley Rovers second side and won 3 – 0. Mark McConnell, Mark Sherlock and Luke Francis scored their goals. In the semi finals they beat Ballinasloe Town 1 – 0 at Lecarrow with Mark Sherlock heading the winner.

It looks like Moore United will not be at full strength for the final and as a result St. Peter's will start favourites.

Moore United from Aidan McManus, Reece Moran, Shane Pettit, Steve Flynn, Rory Ryan, Ronan Keogh, Liam Ryan, Eoin McManus, Shane Dunning, Barry Johnson, Andy Hussey, John Duffy, Paul Whelan, Eoin Curran, Alex Francis, Ruari Lenehan, Mark Butler, Paul Kelly, Emmet Kenny, Andy Nevin, Charles Nevin, Johnny Hession.
Manager: David Cummins
Assistants: Aidan McManus, Willie Naughton

St. Peter's from Eoin Hardiman, Niall Scullion, Darragh Concannon, Mark Sherlock, Gary Stephens, Mick Lee, Paul Allen, Jason Nugent, Brandon Lowbridge, Aidan Warde, Keith Mullarney, David Donoghue, Conor Duignan, Ian Dempsey, Scott Delaney, Mark McConnell.

Manager Padraig Moran
Assistants: Joe McCormack, Derek Moran, David McCormack and Ian Stacey