Vincent Brooks rounds-up the action from the return of the Roscommon and District Football League which saw Ballymoe, Dysart and Strokestown United continuing where they left off.
Ballymoe FC made it ten wins in a row in the Premier Division of the Roscommon and District Football League when they beat bottom side Ahascragh United 6 – 0 at Ahascragh. It was a vital win for Ballymoe after the Christmas break to maintain their advantage at the top of the points table. Gerard Connaughton created an opening for Cathal Connelly to open the scoring for Ballymoe after three minutes and Gregory Grogan and Gerard Connaughton added two more before half time. Cathal Connelly added their fourth before Daniel Malone added two more for the winners in the second half.
Moore United beat Ballaghaderreen 3 – 1 away at Ballaghaderreen and they remain in second place two points behind the leaders but with a game more played. While Moore United were the better side they were made battle all the way by the home side. Paul Kelly gave the winners a real boost when he scored after only five minutes of play. Alan Duffy added a second with twenty seven played and Darragh Concannon made it 3 – 0 with an hour played. Shane Towey pulled a goal back with seven left to play but it came too late to revive the home side.
Castlerea Celtic beat St Johns Athletic 3–0 at Lecarrow and they remain in third place nine points behind the leaders but with a game less played. The home sides hopes were dashed with only seven minutes played when they conceded an own goal. The visitors added a second with fifty two played through David Fitzpatrick and Peter Farrell sealed all three points when he added a third with seventy three played.
Ballinasloe Town kept their fading hopes alive with a 3 – 0 win over Shiven Rovers at Ballinasloe. They are still ten points behind the leaders with a game in hand. The sides were level with twenty minutes to play when Shiven Rovers were awarded a penalty kick, However they missed from the spot and Ballinasloe added three goals before the end of the game. Mark Duffy scored one and David Grehan one for the winners.
Skyvalley Rovers eased their relegation worries with a 2 – 1 win over the Brazilian side Brazukas. Skyvalley were well on top in the first half and were 2 – 0 up at the break thanks to goals from Sean Fahy and Stephen Landy. Brazukas were much better in the second half and pulled a goal back with twenty minutes played. A free kick from Edwardo reached Marcos and he volleyed to the Skyvalley net. Despite being under a lot of pressure the home side held on to take all three points.
In the Norios Takeaway sponsored Roscommon and District Football League Division 1 Dysart made it twelve wins out of twelve when they beat Loughglynn United 3 – 0 at Dysart.
The home side took the lead after forty minutes when Paul Neary converted a penalty kick. John Coyne added a second with sixty two played and James Corbett completed the scoring five minutes before the end of the game.
The Ballinlough side Lough Harps beat Ballinasloe Town 4 – 1 at Ballinasloe also in Division 1. Caoilann Fitzmaurice and Joe Loughran scored in the first half and Sean Burke and Steve Comer in the second for the winners. Ballinasloe scored their goal near the end.
The Castleplunket side C P Ajax beat Dunmore Town 3 – 1 at Dunmore. Darren Boyle Paul Mee and Ciaran Harkin scored for the winners. James Maloney scored for Dunmore Town.
In the Kileen Sportsgrounds Roscommon and District Football League Division 2 Strokestown United continue to lead this Division following a 3 – 1 win over Moylough 79 at Moylough.
Darren Clabby broke the deadlock when he scored for Strokestown ten minutes before half time. Marcus Finn levelled the game in the second half before Darren Clabby and Aidan Dooney sealed a win with goals near the end of the game.
Moore United remain in second place thanks to a 3 – 1 win over Skyvalley Rovers. John Duffy scored first for Moore before Brian Lennon won and converted a penalty kick for the losers. Liam Ryan and an own goal in the last fifteen minutes won the points for Moore United.
Roscommon United kept their hopes of promotion very much alive when they beat Castlerea Celtic 3 – 1 at Castlerea. Carl Garvin converted a penalty kick for the winners just before half time. Jamie Bracken added two more for the Roscommon side after fifty five and seventy two minutes. Thomas Byron replied for Castlerea Celtic.
Cam Celtic drew 2 – 2 with Dunmore Town at Cam. Dominic Anic gave Dunmore a 1- 0 lead before David Cunniffe scored two for Cam. Rory Maloney salvaged a point for Dunmore with a late equaliser.
Shiven Rovers and Cloonfad United drew 1 – 1 at Newbridge. Noel Ward gave Cloonfad a 1 – 0 lead early in the second half before David Kelly replied for Shiven Rovers.
Ballinagare and Hodson Bay Celtic drew 3 – 3 at Ballinagare. The visitors went 2 – 0 up inside five minutes thanks to Joey Cunniffe and John Grehan but a young Ballinagare side pulled a goal back before half time through Tom Ward. Hodson Bay Celtic scored again through Shane Smyth after the restart but Tom Ward and Joe Looby won a point for Ballinagare.