Vincent Brooks rounds-up the week’s Roscommon and District Football League action which included a little bit of history for one Club.
Congratulations are extended to Cloonfad United who won their first senior trophy since 2008 when they beat Dysart 3 – 0 at the Roscommon and District Football League Grounds, Lecarrow, to win the Division 1 Cup. Playing with the wind in the first half Cloonfad United broke the deadlock after only nine minutes when a Conor Freely pass reached Shaun Kearney and he volleyed to the Dysart net.
The real turning point of the game came with twenty-two played in the second half. A fine cross from young Conor Flynn was volleyed to the net by Conor Freely. Cloonfad added a third with thirty four played. Following a foul on Stephen Cunningham a stunning free kick by Andrew Glennon gave the Dysart goalkeeper Noel Fallon no chance.
In the Roscommon and District Football League Premier Division Cup Ballinasloe Town will meet Moore United in the Final. Ballinasloe Town beat Ballaghaderreen 2 – 1 after extra time at Ballaghaderreen. Gerry Ward gave the home side a 1- 0 lead in the first half. Garry Egan converted a penalty kick early in the second to level the game and a deflected Cormack Clogher shot won the game for Ballinasloe with just a few minutes remaining in extra time.
Holders Moore United beat Ballymoe 2 -1 at Moore. Mark Butler headed their first after a free kick by Darragh Concannon and Shane Mulvey gave Moore United a comfortable 2- 0 lead with sixty played. Damien Goggins pulled a goal back for Ballymoe with three minutes left to play.
Next season Skyvalley Rovers will play their forty seventh successive season in the top flight of the Roscommon and District Football League following an extra time win over Lough Harps in the promotion relegation game at Lecarrow.
In a sporting but highly competitive game Skyvalley Rovers came out on top with a 2 – 1 win after extra time. The Ballinlough side were quicker to settle and only a combination of some fine saves by the Skyvalley keeper Benny Lynch and some poor finishing by Lough Harps kept the game scoreless for the first twenty minutes. After that the Skyvalley Rovers back four of Brian Croffey Owen Glennon Michael Donoghue and Damien Blackweir gained control and from then on the game was pretty even.
With thirty five played a good cross from John Galvin was turned back across the Lough Harps goal by Emit Kelly and Stephen Landy headed the ball into the path of Sean Fahy who gave Skyvalley Rovers the all-important first goal despite the best efforts of the impressive Rory Mannion. Early in the second half Skyvalley Rovers were reduced to ten men when one of their players was harshly sent off for a second bookable offence and they held out until ten minutes to go in normal time when a neat volley by Tiernan Murphy, after good work by Gerry Gallagher and Gerry Cunningham, levelled the game. Just before the end of normal time Lough Harps were also reduced to ten men. With three minutes played in the second half of extra time Stephen Landy was fouled and Sean Fahy converted the penalty kick to win the game
Cam Celtic are through to the Roscommon and District Football League Division 2 Cup Final and a meeting with Strokestown United next Friday evening following a 3 – 0 win over Moore United at Falty Park Moore. Darren King broke the deadlock when he scored for Cam Celtic with thirty four played. Keith McLoughlin added a second early in the second half before Darren Donnelly converted a penalty kick with seventy played.
Next week end sees the Roscommon and District Football League Challenge Cup Final Saturday evening between Ballymoe and Castlerea Celtic at Lecarrow and on Sunday the Connacht Final in Galway between West United and Ballinasloe Town.