The Roscommon and District Football League opened their Oscar Traynor Cup campaign with a win. Vincent Brooks reports on that and rounds-up all the action from the Club scene.
The Roscommon and District Football League Team had a comfortable 2 – 1 win over the Mayo League on Saturday evening at Lecarrow in the first game in this seasons Oscar Traynor Cup Competition. With away games to the Galway League and the Clare League to come over the next two Months this was a game the Roscommon and District League needed to win to give them selves a real chance of reaching the knock out stages of this national competition.
The home side took the lead with just five minutes played. Castlerea Celtic’s Nathan Bligh set the Moore United winger Andy Nevin clear on the left. He beat two defenders before trying to beat the advancing keeper. The ball hit the bottom of the goal post and rebounded off a defender before nestling in the back of the net.
With sixteen played the home centre half Joe Woods was caught in possession and a free kick followed. Danny Broderick levelled the game with a well the struck free kick.
The Dysart keeper Noel Fallon made a couple of saves before half time to keep the Roscommon and District League in the game.
With ten played in the second half the Mayo centre back Brian McMorrow fouled the experienced Ronan Curran and Darragh Concannon converter from the spot. The home side had a few chances to add to their total but at the end they were deserving winners.
In Norio’s Take Away sponsored Roscommon and District Football League Division 1 Cloonfad United closed the gap on leaders Dysart to three points when they beat Kilkerrin United 3 – 1 at Cloonfad.
Andy Glennon, Darren O’Malley and Sean Doyle scored for the winners with Conor Moran pulling a goal back for Kilkerrin United.
Third placed Dunmore Town beat the Glenamaddy side Glen Celtic 5 – 0 at Dunmore. Ger Canny got a hat trick and Conor Gleeson and Column Manhire added one each.
The Castleplunket side CP Ajax beat Loughglynn United 3 -2 at Loughglynn. Darren Boyle, Brendan Kilkenny and Paul Mee scored for the winners and Brian Nolan and Donald Ward replied for the losers.
In the Kileen Sportsgrounds sponsored Roscommon and District Football League Division 2 run away leaders Strokestown United had two wins over the weekend.
They beat Cam Celtic 4 – 0 with Kevin Finn and Darren Clabby getting two each.
They later beat Castlerea Celtic 3 – 1 at Castlerea. Kevin Finn Derek Connellan and Darren Clabby scored their goals with Niall Higgins pulling a goal back for the losers.
Hodson Bay Athletic kept up the chase for promotion when they beat Skyvalley Rovers 2 – 0 on Wednesday night in Athlone (Club Match Report here) and drew 0 – 0 in a local derby game with Cam Celtic. Martin Collins and Joe Cunniffe scored against Skyvalley Rovers.
Ballinagare beat Cloonfad United 4 – 3 and then drew 2 – 2 with Shiven Rovers on Sunday. Tom Ward scored two and Aidan and James Dowd added one each. Darren Byrne John Connelly and Sean Ruane replied for Cloonfad. Finbar Mc Dermott scored two for Ballinagare against Shiven Rovers with Joe Horan and Seamus Kelly replying for the Newbridge side.
Moore United beat Cloonfad United 3 – 0 with Tom Naughton in the first half and Liam Ryan added two more for a Moore United side who are battling for second place. Roscommon United and Dunmore Town drew 1 – 1 at Roscommon. John Brennan gave the home side a 1 – 0 lead at the break and Michael Birmingham replied for Dunmore Town after the break.
In the remaining game Moylough came from behind on two occasions to snatch a 2 – 2 draw with Skyvalley Rovers at Taughmaconnell. Thomas Sweeney gave the home side a 1- 0 half time lead. Eoin O’Loughlin levelled the game with seventy played. Ronan Grehan did well to win a free kick for Skyvalley with ten to go and Conor Kelly converted. Marcus Finn levelled the game with two minutes left to play.
Condolences
The Roscommon and District Football League wish to extend their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the late Paddy Coffey from Lecarrow. The very popular Paddy and his family were great supporters of the Roscommon and District League as well a main stay of the local Club St Johns Athletic. The Coffey family were the main sponsors of the Roscommon and District League for many years and they would like to sympathies with Paddy’s wife Jackie, Sons Shane and Patrick, Daughters Paula and Joanne, Brothers Patrick and Damien, Sisters Rita and Lilly and all the extended family. May he rest in peace.