RDFL ROUND UP 26/5/24

Roscommon and District League Round up

Congratulations are extended to the Castleplunkett side C P Ajax who won the Joes Bar sponsored Roscommon and District League Challenge Cup for the first time in their long history. In a thrilling and very sporting game of football at the League Grounds Lecarrow on Sunday they beat Cloonfad United on a 2..1 scoreline. Both teams created many chances in a game that could have been won by either side. At the end of the day the game was decided by the smallest of margins with some good saves by the C. P Ajax keeper Killian Higgins and a little bit of bad luck on the Cloonfad side.Conor Flynn gave Cloonfad United a 1..0 half time lead with a stunning strike just before the break. The Castleplunkett side leveled the game early in the second half through Pedro and the same player added a second a few minutes later. Cloonfad United went all out for an equaliser but it became clear as the game went on that it was to be C P Ajax day and they held out to win the Challenge Cup for the first time.

Congratulations are also extended to Dunmore Town who earlier in the day at the same venue they beat Cam Celtic / Dysart to win the Challenge Shield.

Dunmore started the game well, controlling the pace of the contest and played some lovely football in the opening 20 minutes. It wasn't until the 25th minute when a spectacular Padriag Martyn effort from the left hand side, and of 25 meters out found the top corner of the net. Dunmore pushed on and duly got a second when a Ben Glynn cross found the head of Thomas Gleeson who scored to put them 2-0 to the good. Following this Cam/Dysart found their feet threatening from set pieces with man of the match keeper Shane Gehogan between the sticks having to be alert. A mix up in defense allowed Gareth Mulligan in for a chance just before half time but Gehogan covered his angles well to deny the striker. Into the second half and with play becoming more scrappy, Cam Dysart had the better of the opening stages. Just when it looked like the game would finish 2-0 a brilliant move resulted in Diarmuid Colgan firing home to make the last 5 minutes nervy for Dunmore. A goalmouth scramble ended with Gehogan again getting his hands on the ball and seeing Dunmore home to a cup and shield double.

In the Premier Division Castlerea Celtic ended their relegation worries when they beat Shiven Rovers 3..1 at Lecarrow. Shiven will now play Division 1 runners up Skyvalley Rovers with a place in next season's Premier Division at stake. Castlerea raced into a 3..0 lead in the first half with Oisin O Farrell scoring two and Aaron Keane scoring their goals. Keith Murphy converted a penalty kick for the losers but it came too late to make a real difference.

In the Masters League Glen Celtic made it two wins from two when they beat C P Ajax 1..0 and Ballinasloe Town and Roscommon Town drew 1..1 at Ballinasloe