Roscommon and District League Round Up 31/03/2019

Roscommon and District League Premier Division side Boyle Celtic failed in their attempt to make it to the TP Brennan Connacht Cup Semi-Finals when beaten at home by the Mayo Superleague side Manulla FC. The sides were level at the end of normal time with Manulla getting the winner in the first period of extra time.
The winners took the lead in the first half through Shea Benson but Luka Roddy levelled the game in the second half. Dan Beya scored the winner for the Mayo side in the first period on extra time.

Ballinasloe Town are through to the Semi-Finals of the Joe's Bar sponsored Roscommon and District League Challenge Cup following a 3 – 2 extra time win over fellow Premier Division side Castlerea Celtic at Castlerea. Overall there was little between the teams in this sporting game with Ballinasloe Town scoring the winner in extra time. Castlerea Celtic took the lead somewhat against the run of play through Nathan Bligh and Cormack Clogher levelled the game just after the half time break. Liam Lynch gave Ballinasloe Town a 2 – 1 lead with Gerry Ward converting a penalty kick near the end of normal time to send the game to extra time. A Liam Lynch volley from the edge of the penalty area secured a place for Ballinasloe Town in the Semi-Final draw.

Cup holders St. Peter’s advanced to the Semi Finals with a comfortable 3 – 0 win over Skyvalley Rovers second side at Willow Park, Athlone. St. Peter’s leading goal-scorer Mark McConnell and Mark Sherlock gave the winners a 2 – 0 lead at half time and Luke Francis added a third against a very young Skyvalley Rovers side who battled all the way.

Moore United are also through to the Semi-Finals following a hard earned 2 – 1 win over Kilkerrin United at Kilkerrin. Mark Butler and Charles Nevin had Moore United 2 – 0 ahead with twenty minutes played. Kevin Traynor pulled one back for fellow Premier side Kilkerrin just before half time and while both keepers were kept busy in the second half there were no more goals scored.

The Glenamaddy side Glen Celtic are through to the TP Brennan Connacht Shield Semi-Finals following an impressive 1 – 0 win away to the Galway City side Mervue United B. While the home side dominated the early exchanges Glen Celtic battled away and were boosted by the return from injury of their keeper Cormack Haslem and Keith Cunniffe. Jason Connelly scored the all-important goal for the Glenamaddy side with eighteen minutes left to play and they held on for a deserved win.

Congratulations are extended to Moylough ‘79 who are the Norio’s Division One Champions. They sealed the title with a comfortable 6 – 1 win over Dunmore Town at Moylough. Pierce Townsend scored their first two and Adam Connolly added their third just before half time. In the second half Shane Donnellan, Mike Kelly and Marcus Finn added three more for the winners who are undefeated after fourteen league games.

With two games left to play St. John’s Athletic are just one win away from securing a playoff place for promotion to the Premier Division following their 3 – 0 win over bottom side Ahascragh United at Lecarrow. Tommy Hurley broke the deadlock early in the second half and Michael Hannon added a second before Tommy Hurley added his sixteenth league goal of the season for the winners.

Third placed CP Ajax were held to a 3 – 3 draw at home to Rahara Rovers. Vando and Eze gave Rahara a 2 – 0 half time lead and Vando made 3 – 0 just after the break. Callum Fahy won and converted a penalty kick for the Castleplunket side while a Daniel Connolly header and fine strike from Fergal Moylan completed the comeback. The Castleplunket side are four points behind second placed St. John’s Athletic with two games left to play.

In the Raftery’s Oakland Hotel Premier Division, Skyvalley Rovers ended any relegation worries they might have when they beat Shiven Rovers 2-0 at Newbridge. David Grehan struck twice in the opening half for the winners.

In the Topline Ward’s Division Two Cup, Cloonfad United beat Castlerea Celtic 3 – 2 after extra time at Cloonfad. Kurt Reinhardt gave Cloonfad a 1- 0 lead after five minutes of play when he converted a penalty kick. Pakie Sharkey replied for Castlerea Celtic with thirty seven played. Castlerea Celtic had a player sent off early in the second half but despite being a player down, Dominic Bligh added a second with twenty left to play. Within two minutes Sean Burke replied for Cloonfad United and Cormack Costello scored the winner in the first period of extra time.

Roscommon United beat Shiven Rovers 7 – 1 at Newbridge to advance to the Semi-Finals. Jamie Bracken scored five to bring his season’s total to twenty nine and John Brennan and Paul McHugh added two more. Darragh Murphy scored a consolation goal for a young Shiven side.