The Roscommon and District Football League Team play old rivals Mayo League in their first game in this season’s Oscar Traynor Cup Competition this Saturday evening.
By Vincent Brooks
The Roscommon and District Football League Grounds, Lecarrow is the venue and kick-off is scheduled for 7:30pm. Like last season the Roscommon and District League Team will be part of a four team Oscar Traynor Cup group with the top two teams qualifying for the knock-out stages. The other teams in the group are the Galway League and the Clare League. Unfortunately for the Roscommon and District League they have to play these two teams away.
Saturday’s game is a game the home side would need to win to give them a real chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages and anything less will mean a real up hill struggle. Manager Enda Concannon and assistant Sean McDonnell have been looking at all the top players in the league over the last few months and have selected an impressive group for the upcoming games. Both men have proven managerial credentials with their Club’s, Ballinasloe Town and Dysart, and are well respected by the players in the League.
The Roscommon and District League Team have already won challenge games against Monksland United and Moore United and will finish off their preparation against St Peters this evening (Wednesday) at Lecarrow.
The Managers will have a strong panel to pick from with the bulk of their panel from successful clubs such as Ballinasloe Town, Castlerea Celtic, Moore United, Ballymoe and Dysart. However the Panel will include the talented Keeper Rory Mannion from Division 1 Club Lough Harps and the impressive Joe Hunt from Ahascragh United.
The Roscommon and Mayo sides have played each other on two occasions over the last two seasons and both games finished with a 1-1 score line. The most recent was played twelve months ago at Castlebar with Benny Levell scoring for the home side and Ethan Keogh for the Roscommon and District League. No doubt but Saturday’s game will be very close but hopefully this experienced Roscommon and District League side can come out on top.
Roscommon and District League Oscar Traynor Cup Panel
Dominic Bligh, Ronan Curran, Peter Farrell, Jack Higgins, Niall Higgins (Castlerea Celtic)
Rory Mannion (Lough Harps)
Joe Hunt (Ahascragh United)
Des Hope, Joe Woods, David Cullen, Garry Canavan, Cormack Clogher (Ballinasloe Town)
Noel Fallon, Andy Higgins (Dysart)
Gregory Grogan, John Connaughton (Ballymoe)
Enda Kenny, Darragh Concannon, Ethan Keogh, David Harrington, Andy Nevin (Moore United)
Management
Manager: Enda Concannon
Assistant: Sean Mc Donnell
Coach: Adrian Carberrry
Coaching Assistants: Lloyd Kelly and Niall Kelly