RDFL ROUND UP 26/3/23

Roscommon and District League
Round up 26th March 2023

In the Roscommon and District League Premier Division Cup Quarter-Finals Boyle Celtic edged out Moore United following a penalty shoot out after the game finished at 2 – 2 at the end of normal and extra time.
In a thrilling game of football Boyle Celtic took an early led through Darren Foley.
Moore were level on the half hour mark following good work by James Byrne created a chance for Shane Dunning. Just before half time good play from Jack Nevin set up Shane Dunning who lobbed the Boyle Keeper from a tight angle. The sides were well matched for the early part of the second half but with twenty left to play Moore United had a player sent off. With eight remaining Shanes Battles levelled the game with a brilliantly executed free kick. There were no goals in the remainder of the game or extra time and Boyle Celtic went on to win 3 – 0 in the resultant penalty shootout.
Both teams and supporters will be eagerly awaiting the Premier Division Championship decider featuring the two teams. Moore United need to win to be crowned League Champions while a draw will secure the title for Boyle Celtic. The game is provisionally fixed for the League grounds Lecarrow on Easter Saturday.

Ballaghaderreen beat the Castleplunket side C P Ajax 3- 2 at Tarmon. Overall this was a thrilling game of football that either team could have won. Daniel Connolly gave C P Ajax the lead with a stunning strike with just five minutes played. Christopher Dunne had the sides level at half when he converted a penalty kick. Peter Horan gave Ballaghaderreen a 2- 1 lead but Pedro levelled the game with seventy played. Danny Browne converted a free kick in the closing minutes to get Ballaghaderreen into the Semi-Finals.

St Johns Athletic are also through to the Semi-Finals following a 3 – 0 win over Castlerea Celtic at Lecarrow. Caimin Boland gave them a 1 – 0 and Daire Keenan added two more before the end.

The Ballinasloe Town v Kilkerrin United was postponed as a mark of respect for the late Ger Mahon who with his family contributed so much to the success of the Kilkerrin United F C. May he rest in peace.

Congratulations are extended the Glenamaddy side Glen Celtic who won the Division2 Cup at Lecarrow on Sunday.
Division 2 League champions St Cuans / Ahascragh United looked to have added the Cup to their trophy collection when a Johnny Maloney goal had them 1 – 0 in front heading into time added on. However Willie Comer snatched an equaliser with three minutes of time added on played. Almost from the kick-off of the first period of extra time Gavin Hegarty scored for Glen Celtic and they defended in numbers to get the win.

In the Division 1 Cup Cloonfad United and Ballinagare Manor United were level at 4 – 4 after extra time but in the resultant penalty shootout Ballinagare / Manor United won on a 5 – 4 score line.
Cloonfad United took the lead through Luke Ruane but within a few minutes. Thomas Ward levelled the game. Louis Gavin scored a spectacular goal to give the winners a 2-1 and Shane Fagan scored for Cloonfad with sixty two played. Tom Ward added two more for Ballinagare / Manor in the next two minutes to give his side a 4 – 2 lead. However David Frayne and Niall Morris struck twice for Cloonfad in the last five minutes of normal time to send the game to extra time. There was no goals in extra time with Ballinagare/ Manor United winning the resultant penalty shootout.

Ballinasloe Towns second side are also through to the Semi Finals following a 3 – 1 win over Cam Celtic at Cam. Colm O Brien scored two and John Cawley one for the winners and while Keelan Byrne scored for Cam Celtic it came too late to get them back in the game.

In the Roscommon and District League Women’s League Cam Celtic beat Shiven Rovers 3 – 0 at Cam and are now in a good position to win the League. Katie Nolan scored for the winners from a corner kick with nineteen played. Four minutes later Rebecca Collins added a second and Aimee O Connor added a third with fifteen played in the second half.

In the FAI Women’s Amateur Cup Ballaghaderreen were beaten 3 -1 by the Galway Premier side Corrib Celtic at Ballaghaderreen.

Castlerea Celtic are through to the final of the Women’s Shield after beating Ballinasloe Town 2 – 0 at Castlerea in the Semi-Finals. Sarah Cox gave Castlerea Celtic an early lead and Shelly Taylor added a second with twenty six played. Ballinasloe Town were much better in the second half but failed to break down a solid home defence.