RDFL ROUND UP 24/03/24

Roscommon and District League
Round Up 24th March 2024

Congratulations are extended to Cloonfad United who were the first winners of the season. The were crowned Division 2 League champions following a 4 – 1 win over Roscommon United at Roscommon. The home side saw the ball come back off the Cloonfad cross bar early in the game but after that it was nearly all one traffic. Daithi Gannon scored two and Conor Ruane one before Jay Donlon pulled a goal back for the town side. Sean Burke completed the scoring for Cloonfad with twenty left to play.

Ballaghaderreen FC and Boyle Celtic continue to battle for the Premier Division title following narrow wins over the weekend.
Ballaghaderreen snatched a late winner away to Castlerea Celtic and they are level on points with Boyle Celtic but with a game less played. They have just three games left to play. Playing against a strong wind # Castlerea Celtic scored a fine goal inside the first two minutes of the game and while Ballaghaderreen had the majority of chances in the first half it looked like it was not to be their night. Ballaghaderreen were better in the second half and won a penalty kick with twenty played. Danny Browne scored from the spot. The Ballaghaderreen keeper Gavin Conway made a brilliant save to deny Castlerea Celtic a second and just when it looked like the game would finish level Ballaghaderreen scored the winner. A good cross from Peter Horan reached Cian Hanley and he headed to the Castlerea Celtic net with a minute played in time added on at the end of the game

Boyle Celtic beat Ballinasloe Town 1 – 0 at Boyle. The teams were well matched for most of the game but it was left to the ever reliable Michael Corrigan to score the winner with a volley from inside the penalty area with ten minutes played in the second half.

St Johns Athletic beat Moore United 4 – 2 at Lecarrow. In a real battle St Johns took the lead in the first minute through Jamie Tiernan. Charles Nevin converted two penalty kicks either side of half time to give Moore a 2 – 1 lead. However Jamie Tiernan levelled the game an Daniel O Brien added two more, one from the penalty spot, for St Johns Athletic.

Shiven Rovers picked up three valuable points from their game against the Castleplunket side C P Ajax at the League grounds Lecarrow. The Castleplunket side had two great chances to take the lead in the first ten minutes but failed to capitalise. Shiven improved after the early let off but had to depend on a somewhat lucky goal to win all three points. Half way through the second half a bad bounce deceived the C P keeper and Darragh Murphy took advantage to score for Shiven. The losers came close near the end with a number of free kicks, but the Newbridge side held out to take all three points.

While the battle at the top is a two horse race between Ballaghaderreen and Boyle Celtic the relegation places are very open with Ballinasloe Town, Castlerea Celtic, C P Ajax, Shiven Rovers and Moore United all in the mix.

In Division 1 Dunmore Town kept up the chase for the trophy when they beat challengers Ballinagare Manor United 2 – 1in a Cracking game of football on Friday night under the lights in Dunmore. Ballinagare / Manor went one up in the first half through a fine score from Gavin Murray Despite missing a couple of chances Dunmore kept working hard but had JJ Glynn to thank after a goal line clearance to keep kept it 1-0 at half time. In the Second half, Dunmore upped the pace and peppered the visitors goal, eventually getting the equaliser when substitutes Padraig Martyn and Raman Saman combined to level the game. As the clock ticked on deep into added time, the same two men combined with Saman playing a through ball to Padraig Martyn who beat the defence and keeper to give Dunmore the three points.
In Division 2 Cam Celtic / Dysart beat Kilkerrin United 3 – 1 at Dysart. The home side were 2 – 0 up early in the game but Kilkerrin United pulled a goal back before half time. However it was Cam Celtic / Dysart who scored the decider in the second half. Dan Kelly Darren O Hanlon and Ben Moran scored for the winners with Kevin Traynor replying for the losers.

In the Division 2 Cup St Cuans / Ahascragh United bear Rahara Rovers 5 – 2 at Rahara in a game much closer than the score reflected. St Cuans Ahascragh United were the better side in the first half and goals from Ryan Fitzpatrick Giovani Costa and Liam O Connor gave them a 3 – 0 lead. Ryan Cox pulled a goal back for Rahara Rovers before the break and Evan Donnelly headed a second in the second half to get Rahara Rovers right back in the game. With Rahara pushing for an equaliser they were caught on the break and Cameron O Leary and Ethan O Leary added two more for the winners.

In the Reserve Division Roscommon United beat Shiven Rivers 4 – 1 at Newbridge. Dannis Da Cruz, Warlens Marques, Lago Alves and Korey Kedian scored for the winners.

Moore United beat Ballinagare / Manor Utd 3 – 1 at Ballinagare. Andy Nevin Paul Whelan and Mark Lennon scored for Moore Utd. and Aaron Dowd replied for the losers.

Boyle Celtic beat Dunmore Town 2- 0 at Boyle. Kyle Mc Nabola and Mark Battles scored their goals.

In the Woman’s League Kilkerrin United beat Ballaghaderreen 2 – 0 at Kilkerrin. Myra Grogan and Samantha Fahy scored for Kilkerrin.
Castlerea Celtic played the very strong Mervue United at their Galway venue but after playing well early in the game they lost out on a 7 – 0 scoreline.