SOCCER: Roscommon & District Football League Premier Division champions St John’s Athletic stretched their lead at the top of the table to four points following a hard-earned 2-1 win away to Dunmore Town.
Dunmore opened the scoring through Padraig Martyn but Ronan Morris equalised, heading a Tommy Hurley free to the Dunmore net. Four minutes later Daire Keenan gave St John’s a 2-1 lead and they held out to take three valuable points.
Castlerea Celtic beat Skyvalley Rovers 4-0 at Castlerea but they are still ten points behind the leaders (with a game less played). Jay McCartney (2), Kailin Barlow and Dara Curran got their goals.
Division Two
In the Killeen’s Sports Fields sponsored Division Two, Castlerea Celtic’s second side beat Ballinagare 3-0 at Ballinagare. Gerry Ward (2) and Conor Murray were on the scoresheet.
Challenge Cup
The first-round games in this season’s Joe’s Bar sponsored Challenge Cup were played on Sunday with a couple of surprise results.
Division Two side Carrick Town beat Division One side Ballaghaderreen 5-3 at Ballaghaderreen.
Division One side Moylough continued their good run of results when they beat Roscommon United 2-1 at Roscommon.
Division One side Kilkerrin United edged out Lough Harps from Division Two (at Kilkerrin). Oisin Hynes scored the only goal of the game.
CP Ajax, who play in Division One, overcame a gallant Rahara Rovers (Division Two) at Tarmon. Dan Connolly scored twice in a 3-1 win.
In an all-Division Two clash, league leaders Glen Celtic had a comfortable 6-0 win over Moore’s second side. Dyan Joyce scored his third hat-trick in three games!
Cloonfad United from Division One beat Division Two side St Cuan’s/Ahascragh United 5-0 at Cloonfad.
Boyle Celtic’s second side knocked fellow Division Two side Ballyboro out of the cup when a late strike from Alfonso Sanchez was enough to end an eight-game unbeaten run by the Lanesboro side.
Connacht Women’s Cup
The first-round games in the Connacht Women’s Cup were played last Sunday, and it was a day of mixed fortunes for teams from the Roscommon & District League.
Boyle Celtic had an impressive 4-1 win over Ballyglass at Boyle. Shiven Rovers were beaten 3-0 at home by a very good Swinford side and Kilkerrin were unlucky to lose to a late goal from a strong Corrib Celtic side.
Castlerea Celtic beat Ballina Town 7-2 at Castlerea. Clodagh Diggins scored four and Sarah Diggins three for the winners.
Mervue United beat Ballaghaderreen 2-1 at Mervue. It was a game of exceptional quality. Mervue greeted the final whistle with a mixture of delight and relief as this was a great performance by the Ballaghaderreen ladies.
