Roscommon and District League Premier Division Champions Ballymoe F C lost their first game of the new season when beaten 2 – 0 at home by Shiven Rovers. The first goal came after twenty four minutes and was by way of an own goal. The former Ahascragh United star Joe Hunt added a second for the Newbridge side with five minutes left to play.
Report by Vincent Brooks
Last season’s runners-up Ballinasloe Town beat Skyvalley rovers 1 – 0 at Ballinasloe. A single goal by Mark Richardson with fifteen minutes remaining sealed the three points for Ballinasloe Town.
Cup holders Castlerea Celtic beat Boyle Celtic 2 – 1 at Castlerea. Boyle went 1 – 0 up after ten minutes thanks to Martin Doherty but eight minutes later Peter Farrell headed a Giles Mc Donagh corner kick to the Boyle net. With twenty minutes remaining Nathan Bligh scored a fine solo goal to give Castlerea Celtic a winning start to their league campaign.
New to the League St Peters Athlone were more than flattered by their 9 – 0 win over an understrength Ballaghaderreen side at Lecarrow. Garry Stephens and Michael Lee scored two each with Mark Sherlock Alan Coffey Michael James and Darragh Concannon getting one each.
Moore United beat newly promoted Cloonfad United 3 – 1 at Moore. The sides were 1 – 1 at the break and the winners scored just after the break and again with five minutes left to seal the points. Alan Duffy in the first half and Mark Butler added two more in the second half with Kevin Byrne pulling a goal back for the losers.
Dysart won seventeen of their eighteen League games to win promotion last season but they got off to a bad start in the Premier Division when beaten 3 – 2 away to St Johns Athletic. Overall there was little between the sides with St Johns taking an early lead. Tommy Hurley scored two and James Heffernan one for the Lecarrow side while Darragh Keegan and an own goal accounted for the Dysart scores.
In the Norio’s Division 1 Ahascragh United got their campaign off to a great start after a hard earned 3 – 2 win over the Castleplunket side C P Ajax at Ahascragh. Pat Mongan opened the scoring for the winners after only three minutes when set up by Kenny English. The visitors missed from the penalty spot before Damien Conboy converted a second penalty kick with thirty five played. Following a Lee Johnson header Kenny English restored the home sides lead with fifty five played. However with just a minute of normal time left Mike Kerrane levelled the game. Eight minutes into stoppage time Lee Johnson won and converted a penalty to secure all three points for Ahascragh.
Dunmore and Ballinasloe drew 2- 2 at Dunmore. Calum Manhire scored first for the home side with a well struck free kick and Ryan Fox added a second with David Mc Donnell getting both goals for Ballinasloe.
Hodson Bay Athletic beat Lough Harps 5 – 0 at Lecarrow. Cormack Sheehy gave them a 1 – 0 half time lead. Stephen Cloonan Darragh Blaine Declan O Connor and Calvin Mc Gowan added one each in the second half.
In the Killeen’s Sports Grounds Division 2 Shiven Rovers drew 1 – 1 with Rahara Rovers at Newbridge. Enda Rodgerson gave Rahara a 1 – 0 lead in the first Half with Stephen Crehan replying for Shiven Rovers in the second half.
Boyle Celtic’s second side beat Castlerea Celtic 6 -2 at Castlerea. Garry Golderick gave the visitors an early lead when he converted a penalty kick and Louis Garvin added two more and Daniel Hughes Conor Deery and Jack Moran added another three. Conor Murray scored both goals for the losers.
Cloonfad United beat Skyvalley Rovers 6 – 2 at Cloonfad. Patrick Kiely Sean Ruane Ryan Merchant James Mc Donagh Jack Reinhardt and Daryl Geraghty scored for Cloonfad United and Lee Clogher and Collina replied for the losers.
Roscommon United were beaten 2 – 1 by Moylough 79 at Roscommon. James Fahy and Michael Kelly scored for Moylough and Jamie Bracken scored for the losers.
Cam Celtic beat Ballinagare 8 – 0 at Ballinagare. Jason Nestor scored three David Cunniffe and Gareth Mulligan two each and Kevin Quinn one.
Dunmore Town made it third time lucky when they won the Masters Shield at Lecarrow. In an exciting game Dunmore came out on top on a 2 – 1 score line over Glen Celtic. John Mc Vann and Ger Canney scored for the winners and Kevin Morgan replied for the Glenamaddy side.
