There was action in the Roscommon and District Football League, the Roscommon and District Football League Challenge Cup and the FAI Connacht Junior Cup this weekend.
FAI Connacht Junior Cup
Ballaghaderreen are through to the Quarter-Finals of the Connacht Cup following a penalty shoot out win over a fancied West United from Galway at Ballaghaderreen on Sunday. The game finished level at 2 – 2 at the end of normal and extra time and Ballaghaderreen went on to win a tense penalty shoot out on a 5 – 3 scoreline. Eamon Feeney gave West United the lead with ten played and shortly afterwards the Galway side missed a penalty kick. With five minutes played in the second half Cormack Rushe levelled the game and eighteen minutes later Shane Towey made it 2 – 1 in favour of Ballaghaderreen.
With just a minute remaining in normal time Tony Crowe scrambled the ball over the Ballaghaderreen goal line to send the game to extra time and penalties. Lee Keenan, Danny Browne, Cormack Rushe, Gerry Ward and Gavin Conway converted their penalty kicks for Ballaghaderreen
Ballinasloe Town are also through to the Quarter-Finals of the Connacht Cup following a comprehensive 6 – 2 win over the Galway side NUIG “B” at Galway. The home side took an early lead before Liam Lynch David Nee and Des Hope gave Ballinasloe Town a 3 – 1 interval lead.In the second half Peter Keighery scored one and Manood Giumma two for the winners. They will be away to Ballaghaderreen in the Quarter-Finals and the Roscommon and District league are now sure of a team in this seasons Simi-Finals
The Herald Premier Division
Moore United share the lead of the Premier Division of the Roscommon and District Football League following a 1 – 1 draw at home to third place Ballymoe FC. Mark Nicholson gave Moore an early lead but a strong Ballymoe side were level on the half hour mark when Gregory Grogan created a chance for Daniel Malone who scored. Both teams had chances in the second half with Moore United disappointed to come away with only one point from their home game.
Castlerea Celtic hopes of winning the title took a knock when they were held to a 1 – 1 draw away to St Johns Athletic.
The visitors had a player sent off in the first half but Peter Farrell gave them a 1- 0 lead with seven minutes played in the second half. St Johns were awarded a penalty with twelve minutes remaining and their leading striker Tommy Hurley converted the resultant spot. Castlerea Celtic were denied a winner near the end while St Johns Athletic were also reduced to ten players with five remaining.
The Milltown-Dunmore side MD Town eased their relegation worries when they beat Dysart 4–3 at Dysart. James Maloney scored three for the winners in the first thirty minutes of the game. Karl Garvin pulled one back for a disappointing Dysart side before half time. Aaron O Connell scored a fourth for a much improved M D Town side and Jonathan Kiernan and John Coyne replied for Dysart who came close to snatching an equaliser in injury time at the end of the game.
Old rivals Skyvalley Rovers and Cloonfad United drew 0 – 0 at Onagh Park Taughmaconnell. Despite having the majority of play the home side failed to break down a very young and committed Cloonfad United side.
Norio’s Takeaway Division 1
In the only game in Division 1 Loughglynn United beat Ballaghaderreen 3 – 2. Barry Nolan and an own goal gave Loughglynn United a 2 – 0 half time lead. In the second half Tom Ward and James Dowd scored for Ballaghaderreen with Barry Nolan getting the winner for Loughglynn United.
Roscommon and District Football League Challenge Cup
The first round of the Cup was played over the weekend with only teams from the lower two divisions in action. Division 1 Champions Shiven Rovers were comfortable 5 – 1 winners over Division 2 side Roscommon United at Newbridge. Aidan Mc Inerney struck twice during the first twenty minutes and Francis Kilcommins added a third before the break. Chris Leehy pulled one back for the Roscommon Town side early in the second half before Eric Walsh and Joe Horan added two more for the winners.
Division 1 side Rahara Rovers eased past Moore second side following a penalty shoot out at Falty Park Moore. Gareth Mulligan gave Rahara Rovers a 1 – 0 lead after twenty three minutes and Thomas Naughton replied for Moore United in the last minute of the first half. There were non more goals in normal or extra time and Rahara went on to win the penalty shoot out 4 – 2.
Ballinasloe Town second side – who are in second place in Division 1 beat Kilkerrin United 3 – 0 at Ballinasloe. Michael Kelly scored two and Jason Twohig one, for Patrick Loughnane side.
Glen Celtic received a walk over MD Town’s second side.
Division 2 side C. P Ajax beat Division 1 side Ahascragh United 2 – 1 at Tarmon. In a very close game Darren Boyle scored for the Castleplunket side with a neat volley after thirty five minutes of play. With six minutes played in the second half Kieran Harkin created an opening for Paul Mee and he added a second for C P Ajax. While Ahascragh pulled a goal back from the penalty spot with twenty minutes left to play they just could not get an equaliser against a well organised CP Ajax side.