No real surprise that the Roscommon & District League outfit justified this column’s faith in them last week; they’ve been magnificent in the Oscar Traynor Trophy so far this season and thoroughly deserve their place in the next round. Management and players deserve tremendous credit for not only playing attractive attacking football in Clare last weekend but also making it out of the group stages for the first time since 2012. Well done lads!
Meanwhile, the dedicated players and officials of the RDFL are in action once again over Christmas…
Friday, 23rd December
The Herald Premier Division
Ballinasloe Town v Castlerea Celtic (8 pm): The term ‘Christmas Cracker’ was used rather ambitiously last week by Roscommon GAA to describe last weekend’s charity challenge match. I’m going to borrow the phrase for this game.
If you’re in Ballinasloe getting some last minute Christmas shopping on Friday night, stick around for this one. Prediction: Castlerea Celtic. Narrowly.
Tuesday, 27th December
Norio’s Takeaway RDFL Division 1 (8 pm)
Glen Celtic v Loughglynn United: If this game actually goes ahead, it will clean up in January’s weekly awards and it will be a contender for ‘Joint Performance of the Year’ at the end of the season.
If that isn’t enough incentive to play your heart out on what will be a freezing cold night two days after Christmas, then I don’t know what is! Prediction: Glen Celtic.
Monday, 2nd January
The Herald Premier Division (2 pm)
Skyvalley Rovers v Ballinasloe Town: Ballinasloe are out for the second time over the Christmas period. The scheduling of games this time of year is difficult for clubs but understandable, as poor weather tends to play havoc on the RDFL fixture list. It will be interesting to see how The Town cope. Prediction: Ballinasloe Town.
*Full league fixtures will resume on weekend of 6th – 8th January 2017, thanks to Conor Fahy and the RDFL officials for their hard work throughout the year.
