SOCCER: The second round games in the Connacht Cup and Shield competitions took centre stage last weekend with some good results for teams from the Roscommon & District League.
Castlerea Celtic had an impressive 5-0 home win over Sligo side Kilglass/Enniscrone. Jay McCartney opened the scoring after five minutes when set up by Kailin Barlow. McCartney returned the favour after the break when he provided the passes for Barlow to score two more. Sean Og Bergin and Oisin O’Farrell added one each before the end.
Ballinahown FC beat fellow Division One side Moylough ‘79 4-1 at Moylough. Oisin O’Reilly opened the scoring for the winners with Shane Allen adding a second goal. Sean Kelly pulled one back for Moylough on the half-hour mark but Ballinahown added two more.
Skyvalley Rovers failed to advance to round three when beaten at home by Galway Premier side Maree/Oranmore. The visitors scored after ten minutes but the home side rallied and on two occasions in the first half they had the ball in the Maree/Oranmore net only for the ‘goals’ to be ruled out. Skyvalley Rovers scored a well-deserved equaliser in the second half, through Emmett Kelly. In the second minute of time added on the visitors won a corner and Shane Cox got a vital touch in a crowded six-yard box to score the winner.
Premier side Moore United had a hard-earned but impressive 5-4 extra-time win over Sligo side Calry Bohs. Josh Lennon scored two and Charles Nevin one in normal time and Sean Fortune and Nevin (again) added two more in extra-time to seal a place in round three.
Premier side Boyle Celtic were unlucky to be beaten 3-2 after extra-time away to Ballina side Conn Rangers. Michael Corrigan’s penalty gave Boyle a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes. The home side score twice before Michael Corrigan added his second to send the game into extra-time. Ballina’s Eoin Prendergast scored the decider in the second period of extra-time.
In the Connacht Shield, Cloonfad United had a good 4-3 win over the Mayo side Swinford at Cloonfad. Conor Flynn, Aidan Sloyan, Shane O’Malley and David Hennessy scored for the winners.
Glen Celtic were beaten 5-2 away to Colga FC. The Glenamaddy side were in contention for most of the game thanks to two goals by Gavin Hegarty, but Colga netted twice late on to seal it.
Moyne Villa beat Moore United’s second side 5-3 at Headford while the game between Ballaghaderreen and Ballisodare was abandoned when the Sligo team’s goalkeeper suffered a serious leg injury. Ballaghaderreen were leading 3-2 at the time (with about five minutes left to play).
St John’s Athletic B were beaten 2-1 away to Galway Hibs. Division Two side Lough Harps had a good 2-0 win over Corrib Celtic at Ballinlough. Tiernan Murphy gave them a 1-0 lead after 28 minutes and David Frayne added a second halfway through the second half. Carrick Town drew 2-2 with Tuam side Dynamo Blues at Carrick-on-Shannon but they lost out in a penalty shootout.
Premier Division
In the only game in the Premier Division, St John’s Athletic came from behind to beat Shiven Rovers 3-2 at Lecarrow. A Stephen Francis goal gave the home side a 1-0 lead at half-time but Stephen Murray and Seamus O’Kelly had Shiven Rovers ahead early in the second half. Cian Kelly and Daire Keenan responded with goals for the home side to secure three valuable points.
Women’s League
In the Women’s League, a powerful and experienced Dunmore Town side beat a Roscommon United team who are playing their first season in the league 12-0 at Dunmore.
Credit to the losers who turn out every week despite results not going their way. Aoife Smyth scored five, Ashling Hynes and Lily Concannon two each, and Amy Burns, Siobhan O’Grady and Sarah Cosgrove added one each.
Boyle Celtic beat Kilkerrin Utd 2-0 at Boyle. Emma Duggan and Sinead O’Donoghue scored their goals. Ballaghaderreen FC beat Carrick Town 8-0 in a game played on the astroTurf at Gurteen. Jessica Feeney scored three and Rebecca Finan was on the mark twice.
Dunmore Town, Ballaghaderreen and Boyle Celtic are all in the title race, with Castlerea Celtic – who got the points from their game with Shiven Rovers – still in with a chance of catching the leaders.
