The third round of the Connacht Cup and Shield took centre stage on Sunday.
Overall it was a day of mixed fortunes for Roscommon and District League teams. Premier Division side Castlerea Celtic are safely through to round four following a 3-2 win over the fancied Sligo side Cartron United.
It was a wet and foggy day in Celtic Park but the pitch was in great condition. The hosts got off to a great start, Ryan Larkin turning Jay McCartney free-kick home after three minutes.
Cartron equalised with a well worked goal on 25 minutes. Castlerea came out in the second-half much better with Jay McCartney scoring after good work from John Curran.
Ronan Curran was pulled down in the box on 65 minutes. Chris Kelly smashing the resultant penalty it to roof of net
Castlerea defended for last 20 minutes and Dominic Bligh, Jay McCartney and Ronan Curran all came close to scoring on the counter.
Cartron never gave up and scored in injury time to make it a scary last few minutes for the hosts.
New side to the league, Ballinahown pulled off a terrific 5–3 win over the Galway side Corrib Celtic at Ballinahown.
The Galway side were 2–0 ahead at half-time but within a 20-minute second-half spell, Ballinahown scored four. The visitors pulled one back before the end but the result was never in doubt.
Terry Byrne and Shane Allen scored two each and Mark Egan one for the winners.
Premier side Moore United were beaten 5–3 away to the Clarenbridge side Colga F.C. Moore got off to a great start and were three up after 21 minutes.
Connacht Cup highlights weekend
Josh Lennon, Jack Nevin and Jay McPhilbin were their goal scorers. However, they conceded two penalties and three more goals in the last ten minutes to crash out of the competition.
Division 1 side Ballinasloe Town were beaten 5–1 away to a powerful Maree / Oranmore side.
Cameron O’Leary scored for Ballinasloe on the hour mark but by then it was too late to make a difference.
Cloonfad United are through to Round four of the Connacht Shield following an impressive 4–1 win over the Headford side Moyne Villa at Cloonfad.
The visitors went 1–0 up after 11 minutes. However, Michael McGarry levelled the game on 29 minutes.
An own goal gave the hosts a half-time advantage. Conor Flynn and Jason Reinhardt sealed the win with goals in the second-half.
The Ballinlough based, Lough Harps had a fine 2–1 win over the Galway side West United first team at Ballinlough.
Sam Tynan gave the hosts the lead after 10 minutes. Tommy Hayel equalised, however the game it was decided by a Derry Cox goal before half-time.
In the Premier Division Boyle Celtic made it four games undefeated, beating Ballymoe FC 2–0 at Boyle.
The win moves Boyle into second place in the Roscommon & District Football League Premier Division table (only behind the leaders on goal difference).
On what was a bitterly cold night, Celtic took the lead on 36 minutes as David Callaghan rose highest to meet a Gerard McDermottroe free-kick.
Ballymoe were limited to a few chances with the home side's teak-tough defence holding firm.
An elusive second goal duly arrived midway through the second-half as Mick Corrigan fired in a loose ball from close range.
League action heats up
Dunmore Town and Skyvalley Rovers were involved in a seven-goal thriller at Dunmore with the hosts winning 4–3 after a hectic finish.
Ben Glynn gave the hosts an early lead but Garry Canavan levelled the game from the penalty spot on 25 minutes.
Ramann Saman restored the Dunmore lead, but Canavan converted from the penalty spot to level the game just before half-time.
Padraig Martyn struck two for Dunmore, one from the penalty spot. An own goal kept Skyvalley in with a chance until the last kick of the game.
In the PK Trailers Division 1 the Castleplunket side CP Ajax had their first win of the season when they beat Kilkerrin United 3–2 away at Kilkerrin.
The Castleplunket side went one up early on when Nathan Doorey from a long ball beat the keeper.
Kilkerrin equalised through Declan Murphy 10 minutes later from the penalty spot after a hand ball. The game was one-all at half-time. Two minutes into the second-half Dan Connolly scored a brilliant free kick from 25 yards.
Kilkerrin equalised 10 minutes later through Michael Fahy. With about 20 minutes left a great ball in from Dan Connolly found Tadgh Jordan on the edge of the box and he turned his man and scored.
A good tough game with some more chances for either side but Ajax defence stood firm to see it out.
In Division 2 Roscommon United drew 2–2 with Cam Celtic/Dysart at Roscommon.
Ben Moran gave the visitors a 1–0 lead in the first-half, but Gustavo Araujo had the side’s level at half-time.
Division two round-up
Mark Dwyer made it 2–1 for the hosts on 66 minutes. However, James Corbett won a point for Cam/Dysart with a strike in the 88th minute.
Rahara Rovers welcomed Carrick Town to Clover Park on Sunday and the visitors came away with the spoils with an entertaining 3-5 win.
Narmada Patrasco opened the scoring for Carrick after five minutes and after a triple save by John Murray in the Rahara goals, Fursey Butler was there to follow up and doubled the visitors lead.
A 20-yard pile driver from Darren Donnelly pulled one back for Rahara on 25 minutes.
However, Butler and Patrasco both scored again to make it look like an unassailable lead for Carrick in the first-half.
However, the drama was only beginning when Darren Donnelly spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed him from halfway.
And on the stroke of half-time Rahara were back in it. Nathan O'Connor knocked the ball to the Carrick net to leave it 3-4 at half-time.
The game was always in the balance until the 90th minute when Amas Tobi scored a screamer from the left wing.
In the Women’s League Roscommon United had their first win of the season after beating Carrick Town 6–3 in an entertaining game at Lisnamult.
Tia Cronin and Lucy Coyle scored two each with Ena Dupanovic and Daniella Kerr getting one each for the winners.
Castlerea Celtic beat Kilkerrin United 2–1 at Castlerea.
Aine Keenan scored for Castlerea after 29 minutes. Rachel Gormley made it 2–0 three minutes later.
Amy Boyle scored for Boyle Celtic with 15 minutes remaining. However, they just could not get an equaliser.
In the Connacht U18 Cup Dunmore Town beat Galway Bohemians 5–3 at Dunmore and in the Connacht Shield Moore United beat Coolaney United 2–0 at Lecarrow.
