RDFL ROUND UP 28/04/24

Roscommon and District League
Round up 28th Aprile 2024
With all the League Competitions almost completed most of the action last weekend was in the various Cup Competitions
The Joes Bar Sponsored Challenge Cup took centre stage with the quarter finals being decided over the weekend.
Division 2 side Cloonfad United beat Premier side St Johns Athletic 3 – 1 at Cloonfad. Conor Ruane headed a Darragh Flynn corner kick to the St. John’s net with fourteen minutes played. The Lecarrow side missed two good chances to level the game with David Frayne cleared the ball off the Cloonfad goal line to keep his side in front. St Johns Athletic started the second half on a high and Caimin Boland levelled the game in the first minute. However, the turning point came a minute later when Conor Flynn volleyed to the St Johns net from all of thirty meters. Darragh Flynn added a third for the winners with seventy-two played and they held out for a good win.

The Castleplunket side C P Ajax knocked out Cup holders Castlerea Celtic 2 – 0 at Castlerea and their name will be in the draw for the Semi- Finals. The winners were slightly the better side through out the game and deserved their win. With Killian Higgins solid in the goals and defenders David Coyne and Colm Early playing well Castlerea Celtic rarely looked like scoring. With twenty-four played Dan Connolly had a good claim for a penalty but the referee allowed play to continue, and Thomas Callaghan scored. With Ryan Larkin and Paul Mee playing well in the middle of the field C P added a second mid-way through the second half. A mix up in the Castlerea defence allowed Sam French to score from close range.

Premier Division side Shiven Rovers won the Cup two seasons ago and their hopes of a repeat are on track following a 2 – 1 win over a Moylough 79 side who are a very difficult side to beat in a Cup competition. The game started as you would expect a Cup tie with both teams battling for control. Shiven Rovers were the better side during the opening period and the Moylough keeper Tommy Shaughnessy was forced into making a few good saves. Moylough were much better in the second half but didn’t take the chances they created. The Newbridge side went in front with sixty-five played. Matthey Barrett won a header and the ever-reliable Frank Kilcommins volleyed to the net. Five minutes later Shiven added a second through Matthew Barrett. Moylough pulled a goal back with five left to play thanks to a superb free kick from Michael Foley to make it five goals in his last five matches, but it came a little too late for the Moylough side.
Ballymoe F C conceded their game away to last seasons Cup Finalists Moore United.

Roscommon United, Ballaghaderreen “B” and Dunmore Town are through to the Shield Semi-Finals with Cam Celtic / Dysart and Ballinagare / Manor United still to play in the Quarter- Finals.
St Cuans / Ahascragh United were beaten 2 - 1 by Dunmore Town in a game that needed extra time before Dunmore came out on top. Dylan Fallon gave Dunmore a 1 – 0 lead with eleven played and Jordan O ‘Leary levelled the game with thirty-four played. The game went to extra time and just when it looked like a penalty shoot out was on the cards Samuel Victor set up Tom Forde who fired home the winner for Dunmore.
In a Preliminary round Cam Celtic / Dysart beat Kilkerrin United 8 – 1 at Kilkerrin. The home side fielded most of their underage team and were no match for a strong Cam / Dysart side. Dan Kelly Jack Ryan and Gareth Mulligan scored two each and Steve Tansey and Peter Cummins added one each.

Congratulations are extended to the Castlerea Celtic Women’s team and their Managers on winning the Division 1 Cup Final. They beat Ballaghaderreen 2 – 0 at the League grounds Lecarrow on Sunday. While Castlerea Celtic were the better side, they were made to battle all the way by the Ballaghaderreen side. Reece Higgins gave them a 1- 0 lead following a corner kick with twenty-three played. Rachel Gormley added a second after the break following a fine passing move involving four players.

In the reserve Division Ballinagare/ Manor beat Boyle Celtic 6 – 3 at Boyle. Aaron Dowd and John Stokes scored two each and Jack Mc Dermott and Patrick O Connor added one each for the winners with Daniel Hughes scoring two and Lika Roddy one for Boyle Celtic.