RDFL ROUND UP 07/05/2023

Roscommon and District League
Round up.
Castlerea Celtic beat Cloonfad United 4 – 2 in the Semi-Final of the Joes Bar Challenge Cup and will now play Moore United in the final at the League Grounds Lecarrow next Sunday at 2,00pm
A young and talented Cloonfad side showed their lack of experience but lacked in little else it their game against the experienced Castlerea Celtic side at Glenamaddy. Cloonfad United took the lead after nine minutes of play when Robert Heneghan took advantage of some slack defending and scored a simple goal. A well struck free kick by Captain Jack Higgins levelled the game with forty two played. Substitute Ronan Curran won and converted a penalty kick for Castlerea Celtic within two minutes of the second half and within seconds the Cloonfad Keeper was sent off for a foolish tackle on Ronan Curran.
Cloonfad continued to battle on and levelled the game midway through the half when Mathew Frayne headed an equaliser. Ronan Curran converted a second penalty after a defender handled on the line and as a result of the hand ball Cloonfad was reduced to nine players. Darren Clabby headed a fourth as the game reached time added on and in the closing seconds Cloonfad United were reduced to eight following a tired tackle by a defender.

Congratulations are extended to the Cam Celtic Women’s team who won the first ever Roscommon and District League Women’s League on Saturday night after beating Kilkerrin United 2 – 1 at Lecarrow.. After finishing level with Kilkerrin United at the end of the league proper the sides had a play off to see who would be crowned Champions. This was a thrilling game between two really good sides and the bug crowd were kept on their toes until the final whistle.
Kilkerrin United were 1 – 0 ahead at half time after Aoife Smyth scored following a well taken corner kick.
Katie Nolan levelled the game in the second half after receiving a well-placed pass from her sister Marion. Katie Mc Donnell won a free kick for Cam Celtic and Katie Nolan’s free kick dropped to Grace Hannon she gave her side a 2 – 1 win which they held onto until the end. Amid all the celebrations David Kelly presented the Cup to the Cam Celtic Joint Captains Alaine Morris and Rebecca Collins.

Congratulations are also extended to Ballaghaderreen and Shiven Rovers who won the Premier and First Division Cups respectively.
Ballaghaderreen beat Ballinasloe Town 1- 0 at Lecarrow on Sunday. The teams were well matched in the first half but Ballaghaderreen were clearly the better side in the second half. Only some excellent saves by the Ballinasloe keeper Joshua Bulman and last ditch tackles by Mike Lynch kept Ballinasloe Town in the game. However with twenty five played in the second half Peter Haran’s corner kick reached his team captain and man of the match Cathal Horan who volleyed the only goal of the game from close range.

Shiven Rover completed the Division 1 League and Cup double when they beat Ballinagare / Manor United on penalties in the Cup final at Lecarrow. As so often this season Ballinagare/ Manor missed some good chances to seal the game but in the end the game finished scoreless after extra time. The Shiven Keeper Shane Delaney proved his worth when he saved two penalties and his side went through on a 4 – 2 score line.

In remaining game Ballinasloe Town “B” maintained their place in Division 1 following a 3 -2 play-off win over Division 2 side Glen Celtic at Lecarrow. Joe O Brien scored two and James Ward one for the winners.