Vincent Brooks rounds up all the action in the Roscommon and District Football League including a 9 goal thriller at the top of the Premier Division.
The race for the Premier Division of the Roscommon and District Football League is really close with just four points separating Ballymoe, Moore United, Castlerea Celtic and Ballinasloe Town.
Ballymoe FC go top of the points table following a 5–4 win over the Brazilian side Brazukas at Roscommon. Ballymoe were 4-1 ahead early in the second half but the Brazilians fought back to level the game. Damien Goggins scored the winner for Ballymoe in the closing stages of the game. Two from Daniel Malone and one from Cathal Connelly and an own goal had earlier accounted for the winners scores. Vando scored two with Danis and Antonio getting one each for the losers.
Previous leaders Moore United were beaten at home by Ballinasloe Town and while still in contention they will need other results to go their way to win the title. In a game that saw both sets of defenders in top form there was only one goal scored. David Cullen scored the only goal of the game for Ballinasloe Town within two minutes of play in the second half. Moore are two points behind the leaders. Ballinasloe Town are a further two points behind but with a game less played than the leaders.
Title holders Castlerea Celtic could be the team to beat following their 5–2 win over Shiven Rovers at Castlerea. Ronan Curran scored three and Peter Farrell and Trevor Kelly one each for the winners. Mickey Collins and Francis Kilcommins scored for the Losers. Castlerea Celtic are three points behind the leaders with a game less played.
Congratulations are extended to Boyle Celtic who beat the Dublin side VEC United, Terenure, to reach the Quarter-Finals of the FAI Junior Cup. Niall Brennan and Luke Roddy scored for a very impressive Boyle Celtic side.
In Division 1 of the Roscommon and District Football League Champions elect Dysart made sixteen wins out of sixteen when they beat Dunmore Town 1-0 away at Dunmore.
Mark Higgins scored the only goal of the game in the first half with a well struck free kick.
With second placed Cloonfad United not playing Lough Harps kept their hopes of making the runners up spot in Division 1 alive when they beat Loughglynn United 5-0 at Ballinlough. Sean Moran scored three and Adrian Cregg and Seamus Burke added one each with all the goals coming in the first half.
Ballinasloe Town beat bottom side Rahara Rovers 6-0 at Rahara. Brian Campbell scored three and David McDonnell, Owen Keighery and Warren Coyne added one each.
Strokestown United moved a step closer to winning the Roscommon and District Football League Division 2 title when they beat Shiven Rovers 5-1 at Strokestown.
Kevin Finn scored three and Aidan Dooney and Robert Regan one each for Strokestown with Enda Fitzmaurice pulling a goal back for the Newbridge side.
Moore United remain in second place when they beat Ballinagare 3-1 at Moore. Liam Ryan scored two and Adam McManus one for the winners with James Dowd’s goal keeping Ballinagare in the game until the end.
Cam Celtic beat Moylough 79 2-1 at Cam. The turning point in this game came just before half time. A Moylough defender was forced to handle on his goal line and was sent off. Gareth Mulligan converted the resultant penalty kick. Keith McLaughlin added a second before Alan Conway pulled a goal back for Moylough 79.
Hodson Bay Athletic beat Castlerea Celtic B 1-0 at Athlone. Cormac Sheehy scored the only goal of the game.
The remaining three games were postponed due to frozen pitches and a bereavement at Cloonfad.