RDFL ROUND UP 15/10/23

Roscommon and District League Round Up
Four teams from the Roscommon and District League were in action in Round 2 of the FAI Junior Cup with results going More or less as expected. Ballinasloe Town took on the fancied Mayo Super League side Ballyheane AFC at Ballinasloe and after a real battle the home side showed all their experience to come through on a 3 – 2 score line. Conor Dowd opened the scoring when he gave the home side a 1- 0 lead with twenty five played. Josh Mc Carthy extended their lead with a fine strike seven minutes later. Ballyheane pulled one back with a well struck free kick almost on the half time whistle.
A great volley from Dylan Keane made 3-1 for Ballinasloe Town with fifty-five played. The Mayo side added a second with eighteen left to play but the home side with Shane Kelly and Mark Kilkenny in top form held out for a win and a place in Round 3 of the FAI Junior Cup.

Premier Division side Moore United are through to Round 3 of the FAI Junior Cup following a 4 – 0 win over Division 1 side Cloonfad United at Cloonfad. It really was a day for the Nevin family as brothers Jack and Charles scored two each for the winners. Jack Nevin gave Moore United a 1 – 0 half time lead after receiving a pass from Charles with fifteen minutes on the clock. In the second half Frank Ruane came close to levelling the game but his volley came back off the Moore cross bar. With seventy one played Alan Duffy won a penalty kick and Charles Nevin converted. Josh Lennon created an opening for Jack Nevin to make it 3 – 0 and Charles Nevin made it 4 – 0 after being put in on goals by Jason Ryan.
The Castleplunket side C P Ajax were beaten 4 -1 by a very good Strand Celtic side who are challenging for the Sligo Leitrim Super League title. The Castleplunket side were short a few of their regular players and while not reflected in the score line the team played well. The visitors went in front after twenty minutes but the home side were level ten minutes later. James Beattie Darren Flynn and Vando combined before releasing Junior who finished to the Strand Celtic net. The visitors scored each side of half time and added a fourth near the end to secure a deserved win.

In the only game played in the Premier Division Shiven Rovers picked up three valuable points from their away game against Castlerea Celtic. The home side started strongly and were one up with eight minutes played. The game was more even in the second half with both teams having chances to score before Keith Murphy levelled the game with fifteen left to play. Mike Doyle added a second for the Newbridge side a couple of minutes later when he gave the Castlerea Celtic keeper no chance with a well struck volley. With ninety played Cathal Dineen levelled the game when he headed a corner kick to the Shiven net. With two minutes of time added on Fionn O Connor picked out Rory Cunningham with a well-placed corner kick and he scored the winner after slipping past two defenders

In the Division 1 Northern section Glen Celtic and Kilkerrin United Drew 1 – 1 at Glenamaddy. Kevin Traynor gave Kilkerrin a 1 – 0 lead with a well struck free kick after ten minutes of play. Willie Comer got an equaliser for Glen Celtic before half time.

In Division 1 South Brideswell was the setting for the local derby game Cam / Dysart v Rahara Rovers. A seven goal thriller ended with Rahara Rovers holding out for a 4 – 3 win. Ben Morgan gave the home side an early lead. Rahara equalised when Cathal Crehan chipped the advancing keeper. Cam / Dysart were quick to recover and David Cunniffe and Ben Morgan added two more. However Brendan Quinn kept Rahara Rovers in touch when he made 3 – 2 just before half time. Early in the second half the sides were level when Mark Miley headed home from a corner kick. Cormack Lavin gave Rahara Rovers the lead for the first time with fifteen left to play when he headed a corner kick to the net. Cam / Dysart came very close to getting an equaliser in the closing stages but John Murray made some fine saved to keep Rahara ahead until the final whistle.

Skyvalley Rovers picked up three valuable points when they beat St Johns Athletic at Lecarrow. A Jack Moore penalty kick late in the game was all that separated the sides at the end.

Roscommon United and Moylough 79 drew 1- 1 at Roscommon Kavana Donlon gave the home side a 1 – 0 lead with just six minutes played. Joe Whyte secured a point for the away side when he equalised with twelve minutes played in the second half.

In the Women’s League Cam Celtic had a late surge to snatch a 3 – 1 win from their home game against Shiven Rovers. Niamh Cormican scored for the Newbridge side.

Kilkerrin United beat Castlerea Celtic 2 – 0 at Castlerea. Regina Kelly and Siobhan Fahy scored their goals
Ballinasloe Town beat a very young St Cuans / Ahascragh United side 6 – 0 at Ahascragh..
Conditions were perfect at CAM today for this eagerly awaited tie between old rivals Cam and Shiven. Both sides playing some excellent football in front of a large crowd were very close all the way through the first half with Marion Nolan scoring the only goal of the half minutes before the break. Shiven came out strong for the second half and were rewarded with the equaliser from a fantastic strike from the edge of the box to level matters. Cam were the fitter side in the last fifteen and an excellent through ball from Kate McDonnell found Aimee O'Connor on the run in and she made no mistake for the winners. Kate Nolan won a penalty for Cam in the dying minutes and her sister stepped up to score her second of the day. For Cam Mollie McDonnell had a savage day between the posts, Alaine Morris was superb at Centre Back ably assisted by Aisling Byrne and Becky Collins while the two Kates - Nolan and McDonnell dominated midfield and up front Aoife Coyle who worked her socks off was always a threat.