Roscommon & District League Round Up 27/01/2019

The fourth round of the TP Brennan Connacht Cup took centre stage on Sunday but overall it was a disappointing day for teams from the Roscommon and District League.

St. Peter’s FC were beaten 2 – 1 after extra time by the Mayo Champions Ballina Town at Willow Park, Athlone.
Mark Sherlock gave the Roscommon and District League title holders a deserved lead in the first half and they had chances to add to it before the break. Just when it seemed the home side were going to hold out for a win, Wayne Helley scored an equaliser in the last minute of normal time.The game went to extra time with Vinnie Lavelle added a second for a good Ballina side in the second period.

Skyvalley Rovers travelled to the Mayo Super League side Castlebar Celtic and lost 4 – 1. The home side, who hold the crown of the most Connacht Cup wins, were 4 – 0 up at the break. A much improved performance from the Taughmaconnell side saw them pull a goal back through David Grehan in the second half but by then it was too late.

Due to the sad and sudden passing of Stephen Corrigan, brother of the Boyle Celtic Captain Michael the Connacht Cup game between St Johns Athletic and Boyle Celtic was postponed as a mark of respect. Sincerest sympathies are extended to Michael, the Corrigan family and the wider Boyle Community. May he rest in peace.

In the TP Brennan sponsored Connacht Shield teams from the League fared much better.
Glen Celtic beat the Galway League Division One side Colemanstown United 4 – 2 at Glenamaddy. The home side suffered a setback when the visitors scored just before half time. However, Adrian Divilly levelled the game with four minutes played in the second half. Cathal Hynes added two more before the visitors scored again. Michael Heneghan sealed a win for the Glenamaddy side when he headed their fourth with ten minutes left to play.

Division One side Cam Celtic had a very impressive 4 – 1 win over the Sligo Premier Division side Coolaney United at Coolaney. Man of the match Darren Donnelly scored three and Gavin Byrne added a fourth for Cam Celtic.

Ballinasloe Town travelled to the Mayo Premier side Fahy Rovers and came away with a penalty shootout win after the game finished 2 – 2 at the end of normal time. Craig Keighery and Stephen Cregg scored for the Ballinasloe Town side.

Division Two side Roscommon United pulled off a terrific 1 – 0 win over the Mayo Premier Division Champions Snugboro United at Roscommon. The teams were well matched for most of the game but with ten minutes left to play a stunning thirty metre volley from James Walsh came back of the post and left leading goal scorer Jamie Bracken a simple tap in to see Roscommon United 's name go into the hat for the next round draw.

The Castleblakeney Division Two side St. Cuan’s United were beaten 1 – 0 away to Galway League Division Two side Kinvara United.

The top game in the Raftery’s Oakland Hotel Premier Division was the meeting of Ballinasloe Town and Castlerea Celtic at Ballinasloe. Ballinasloe Town were the better side in the first half but after the break either team could have won. Joe Hunt and Liam Lynch came nearest to scoring for the home side but a 0 – 0 draw was a fair result.

With the Premier Division divided into two groups of six teams and just five games left to play only a single point separates the top four of Boyle Celtic, Ballinasloe Town, St. Peter’s FC and Castlerea Celtic.

Moylough ‘79 go eight points clear at the top of the Norio's Division One following a narrow 2 – 1 win over second placed CP Ajax at Moylough. The home side took the lead in the first half when a through ball reached Adam Connolly and he slotted the ball to the Castleplunket side’s net. The losers did not give up and Daniel Connolly headed his fifteenth league of the season to level the game five minutes into the second half. A free kick by Mattie Finn came back off the CP Ajax post with seventy played and Dermott Hughes was on hand to score what turned out to be winner for Moylough ‘79.

Rahara Rovers beat Ahascragh United 2- 0 at Rahara. Vando after nine minutes and Marcos after twenty-four gave Rahara a 2 – 0 lead. Ahascragh were better after the break but any hope of a comeback ended when Paxo saved an Ahascragh United penalty kick.

In the Killeen Sports Grounds Division Two, leaders Castlerea Celtic beat a young Skyvalley Rovers side 3 – 0 at Onagh Park, Taughmaconnell.
Following a good passing move, the ball was worked to Martin Foster who made no mistake. Patrick Egan added a second before the break with a left footed volley from outside the penalty area. The home side came more into the game in the second half but failed to break down a solid Castlerea defence. Near the end of the game Martin Ward added a third for the winners.

Manor United kept their hopes of catching the leaders alive with a 5 – 2 win over Ballymoe at Ballymoe. The teams were well matched for most of the game but the introduction of Tom Ward with fifteen minutes remaining swung the game in favour of Manor United. Joe Murphy and Tom Ward scored two each and Niall Devaney one for the winners with Dan Malone scoring both goals for the Ballymoe side.