This seasons Joes Bar Challenge Cup final will see the unusual pairing of Carrick-on-Shannon side Carrick Town and Castlerea Celtic.
Division 2 side Carrick Town are playing their first season of football in the Roscommon and District League, after many years playing in the Sligo/Leitrim League.
Their place in the final coincides with their celebrations of 50 seasons in football. They will be hoping to cap the celebrations off with a Cup Win.
Premier Division side Castlerea Celtic were cup winners on eight previous occasions, the last being 2023.
In the semi-finals Carrick Town surprisingly beat Division 1 side Cloonfad United. While the teams were well matched for most of the game it was Carrick who took their few chances.
Whereas, Cloonfad misses a couple of good chances to level the game in the closing minutes.
Cloonfad were on top early on and took the lead after 11 minutes. Michael Mc Garry’s corner kick was headed in by Andew Glennon.
Carrick were level eight minutes later. A Narada Patrasco corner kick went all the way to the Cloonfad net.
The sides were even enough for the remainder of the half. Whereas, Cloonfad had most of the play and the wind advantage in the second-half they created very few real chances.
Carrick took the lead with 14 minutes remaining. Fursey Butler volleyed to the Cloonfad net following a corner kick.
Cloonfad missed two really good chances to level the game. Carrick keeper Olea Troshchii pulled-off a few fine good saves to ensure a place in the final for his side.
Meanwhile, Jay McCartney scored two in the first 10 minutes, as Ryan Larkin and McCartney again gave Castlerea Celtic a 4-0 half-time lead.
Ryan Larkin added a fifth for Castlerea Celtic on the hour mark. While Jay McPhilben scored a consolation goal near the end it made no difference to the outcome.
The Women’s Challenge Cup semi-finals were played on Sunday at Lecarrow with Dunmore Town and Castlerea Celtic beating Shiven Rovers and Boyle Celtic respectively.
A strong Dunmore Town side beat Shiven Rovers. Aoife Smyth opened the scoring for Dunmore just before half-time and she added a second on 57 minutes.
Nicola Kilgarriff and Ashling Hynes added two more for Dunmore before the end.
Ballaghaderreen are through to the Women’s Shield Final following a 5–1 win over Roscommon United at Roscommon.
A few good saves kept the Roscommon United side in the game for the first 50 minutes. However, Tori Duffy broke the deadlock and three minutes later, Rebecca Finan converted a penalty for Ballaghaderreen following a hand ball.
Tori Duffy, Robyn Nituathaigh and Grace McDermott added three more in the closing stages against a side who are playing their first season of football.
Roscommon pulled a goal back, but it came too late to give them a chance of a comeback.
In an entertaining game at Lecarrow, Castlerea Celtic secured their place in the final.
Boyle matched their opponents for most of the game but two second-half goals from Clodagh and Sarah Digging resulted in a place in the final for Castlerea Celtic.
In the men’s Premier Division, Shiven Rovers secured a play-off to avoid a relegation play off when the beat title holders St. Johns Athletic 1–0 at Newbridge.
Franscisco Lopez Miras scored the winner seven minutes into added time.
Ballymoe FC and Boyle Celtic are through to the Premier Division Cup semi-finals.
Ballymoe beat Shiven Rovers 4–2 at Ballymoe.
Damien Goggin, James Connaughton, Mark Kilcommins and Richard Thompson scored for Ballymoe. Whereas, Gabriel Costa and Seamie Kelly replyied for the Newbridge side.
Boyle Celtic beat Dunmore Town 6–0 at Boyle. Michael Corrigan scored three and Luke McGrath, Shane Carroll and an own goal made up the Boyle total.
Whereas, Skyvalley Rovers v Moore and Castlerea Celtic v St Johns were postponed due to heavy rain.
Cam Celtic/Dysart are through to the D K Shield final thanks to a 3–0 win over Castlerea Celtic second side at Dysart.
Ben Moran scored two and Gareth Mulligan one. They will play the winners of Ballinasloe Town and Ballyboro in the final.
In the third Division Cup, Cloonfad advanced to the next round following their 2–1 win over St. Cuans/Ahascragh United at Cloonfad.
Jack Reinhardt gave Cloonfad the lead, finishing off a Liam Flemming corner kick. Ryan Fitzpatrick levelled the game six minutes later with a stunning volley.
Mark Feeney scored the winner for the Cloonfad second side after 69 minutes.
