RDFL ROUND UP 14/05/23

Roscommon and District League Round Up
Congratulations are extended to Castlerea Celtic who won the Roscommon and District League Challenge Cup for the eighth time on Sunday following a narrow 1 - 0 win over Moore United at the League Grounds Lecarrow. League Champions Moore United were going for the League and Cup double but somehow they never reached the same high standard of play as they did all season long. Castlerea Celtic seemed more determined and their very experienced side were in control for most of the game. James Byrne did have the ball in the Castlerea Celtic net with five minutes played after Charles Nevin won a corner kick for Moore United but the goal was ruled out for off side. Castlerea Celtic took the lead after fourteen minutes when Ronan Curran won a corner kick. Jack Higgins swung the ball to the back post and Frank Hester applied the finishing touch. Playing with the wind in the second half Moore United were expected to go all out for an equaliser and despite the best efforts of Charles and Jack Nevin on the wings they never were able to put any real sustained pressure on the Castlerea Celtic goals. Niall Connaughton collected the few crosses into the penalty area and Castlerea Celtic eventually ran out comfortable winners.
Afterwards Niall Kelly presented the Joe Kelly sponsored Cup to the winning joint captains Jack Higgins and Cathal Dineen.

Congratulations are also extended to the Shiven Rovers Women’s team who won the Connacht Shield following a thrilling win over Dunmore Town in a game played at the Moyne Villa grounds Headford.
After finishing at 2 – 2 at the end of extra time the game went to a penalty shootout with the Newbridge based Shiven Rovers winning the shootout on a 5 – 4 score line. Nadine Connolly created an opening for Ciara Lally who scored for Shiven Rovers. Sinead Flynn added their second in the second half but Dunmore never gave up and they struck back to send the game to extra time and penalties. Sarah Gavin Maeve O Brien Ciara Lally Laura Kelly and Sinead Flynn converted the penalty kicks for the winners in the shootout.

That’s about all for this season.

Thank you for your coverage

Regards Vincent Brooks