It was very much a week of mixed emotions for the Roscommon and District Legue.
On Saturday they received news of the death of their former Secretary Brendan Fahy who contributed so much to the League over a long period.
Brendan was very professional in his work for the League and set an example for all future secretaries.
He was known and liked by just about everyone involved in the game both locally and at a national level. The league extends its sincere sympathy to all Brendan’s Family. May he rest in peace.
On the pitch, Premier Division Champions St. Johns Athletic advanced to the Premier Division Cup final following a 3–1 win over Boyle Celtic at Boyle.
Tommy Hurley scored two and Daire Keenan one for St. John’s. They will play either Ballymoe FC or Skyvalley Rovers at Lecarrow on Friday evening.
Skyvalley Rovers ended their relegation worries when they beat Shiven Rovers in a relegation play-off at Lecarrow on Friday evening.
This was the third meeting of the sides this season. With the sides tied at 3-3 at the end of extra-time the game went to a penalty shootout.
Skyvalley came out on top, 4-3. Stephen Murray gave the Newbridge side a 1-0 lead after 32 minutes. Whereas, some good saves by Brian Croffey denied them two more.
John Fehily levelled the game on 70 minutes. However, Stephen Murray restored the Shiven lead 10 minutes later.
A fine Emmett Kelly strike with five minutes remaining in normal time kept Skyvalley in the game.
Both teams had chances in extra-time to score before Shiven once again took the lead in the last minute of the second period of extra-time through Sean Lohan.
Skyvalley win out
However, in the second minute of time added-on Skyvalley won a penalty kick. Keelan Galvin converted to level the game.
In a very exciting shoot-out Skyvalley Rovers came out on top. Shiven Rovers will now play the winners of Ballinasloe and Cloonfad with the eventual winners playing in next seasons Premier Division.
For the Taughmaconnell side it a meeting with Ballymoe in their next game with the winners through to the Premier Division Cup final.
In the DK Shield semi-final Ballinasloe Town beat Ballyboro 3–0 at Ballinasloe. Cian Campbell gave Ballinasloe Town a 1-0 half-time lead. Mark Kilkenny and Mike Lynch added two more after the break.
Cloonfad United second side will play Roscommon United “B” in the Division 3 Cup Final next Sunday. Cloonfad scored a 3–1 extra-time win over Lough Harps at Cloonfad.
The game didn't come to life until the second-half as Cloonfad’s reserves booked a place in this season's decider causing a shock in the process.
However, the victory came a huge price as heroic centre-half Dan Fagan suffered a nasty looking leg injury which tainted the Cloonfad win.
It was Jack Reinhardt who gave Cloonfad a first-half advantage scoring from close range on 39 minutes.
Harps pressed hard in the second-half and drew level on 67 minutes through Brendan Bermingham.
However, the contest swung back in Cloonfad’s way when the visitors were reduced to 10-men. Cloonfad put a lot of crosses into the box but nothing fell right for them to get a strike away as the 10 men defended well.
The first-half of extra-time was marred by the horrible injury picked up by Daniel Fagan but the Cloonfad players came good in the second period scoring twice.
First, Evan Donnellan's shot, was going wide, was turned into the net by a defender.
Big drama at the end
There was drama right at the end as Adam Kelly unbelievably got a ball right off the Cloonfad’s goal line. With the Harps keeper pushing forward, Liam Fleming pounced on the clearance to score into a vacant goal.
Roscommon United “B” beat Moore “B” 3 – 1 at Moore.
Darren Mainwaring broke the deadlock when he scored for Roscommon on the hour mark.
Mainwaring added his second with 12 minutes remaining. Nathan Hannon added a third before Christopher Kenny pulled a goal back for Moore. They will play Cloonfad “B” in the final next Sunday
In the Women’s Cup, Kilkerrin United beat Dunmore Town 3–2 at Kilkerrin in a game that went to extra-time.
Aoife Collins gave Dunmore a 1–0 lead after just five minutes. However, Dunmore levelled the game just before half-time.
Ali O’Toole restored the Kilkerrin lead after 77 minutes. Aoife Smyth levelled the game just before full-time. Amy Boyle scored the winner in the first period of extra-time and Kilkerrin held out despite being under a lot of pressure.
They will play the winners of the Castlerea v Ballaghaderreen game in the final. Their game was abandoned after an injury to a player.
Congratulations are extended to the St. Johns Athletic under-14 girls who won the Connacht cup and the Taughmaconnell under-13 girls who won the Connacht Community games.
Big night at Moore United
Finally, Moore United celebrate their 50th anniversary at their wonderful facilities at Falty.
The celebrations coincided with the opening of their stare of the art pitch and other facilities. The current officers of the Club welcomed back and made a presentation to the very first team to represent the Club.
Unfortunately, some had passed on but they were in everyone’s thoughts as the day progressed.
A special word of praise for Maureen and Moira Duffy who with the help of others produced an excellent 64-page history of the club.
