The Joe’s Bar Challenge Cup took centre stage over the weekend with two big surprise results.
Division 1 side Moylough 79 beat Premier side Boyle Celtic at Boyle to advance to the quarter-finals.
Moylough started the better side, James Foley’s shot came back-off the Boyle goalpost early in the game.
Foley opened the scoring for Moylough on 40 minutes, after latching on to an Ian Fahy pass and beating the advancing keeper.
Boyle made changes at half-time and only some good saves by Thomas Shaughnessy kept his side in the game. Michael Foley scored his fourth goal in four matches, converting a penalty after Leo Donnellan was fouled.
Shiven Rovers beat fellow Roscommon Premier Division side Ballinasloe Town 6–0 at Newbridge. Playing with a strong wind Shiven were 2-0 up after 14 minutes.
Michael Doyle and Padraig Delaney scored for the Newbridge side. Ballinasloe failed to convert a penalty before Padraig Delaney made it 3–0 just before half-time. Frank Kilcommins, Michael Doyle and young Sean Lohan added three more to give Shiven a comfortable win.
Roscommon Premier side C.P Ajax beat Division 1 leader’s Skyvalley Rovers 1-0 at Onagh Park, Taughmaconnell on Friday evening.
The game was decided by a Rowan Warner goal on 14 minutes. A great save by keeper Killian Higgins just before the end of the game, denied Mike Harvey an equaliser.
In an all Premier Division game at Ballaghaderreen, leaders Ballaghaderreen were beaten by last season’s finalists Moore United.
The game went to extra-time and penalties with Moore winning 9–8 in a thrilling shoot-out.
The hosts played with a strong wind in the first-half but could not break down a well organised defence. The second-half was the very opposite with Ballaghaderreen defending in numbers.
Extra-time couldn't seperate the sides
Playing with the wind in the first period of extra-time, Cormack Rushe gave the hosts a 1–0 lead, which looked to have decided the game. However Charles Nevin equalised near the end of the second per of extra-time.
Whereas, the penalty shootout was full of drama with 20 penalty taken. The Moore keeper saved two while the Ballaghaderreen keeper saved one.
The Division 1 Championship is finely balanced with Skyvalley Rovers, Ballymoe FC and Dunmore Town battling for the title.
Ballymoe FC and Dunmore Town won their games last weekend and will clash next Sunday at 11am at Ballymoe. The losers of this game will be out of the running.
Ballymoe FC beat Ballinagare/Manor United 3–0 at Ballymoe on Sunday. With 12 minutes played Paul Flannagan opened the scoring from close range following a corner-kick.
Pat Flynn added a second with 24 minutes played after latching on to a through ball. Damien Goggins sealed the three points for Ballymoe when he added a third with 20 minutes remaining.
A young Dunmore Town side had a very convincing 5–0 win over Glen Celtic at Glenamaddy.
Young Raman Saman scored three in the first-half for Dunmore. He was replaced by his younger brother Mirran at the break, who setup Declan Forde to make it 4–0 on 70 minutes. Declan Forde completed the scoring for Dunmore with eight minutes remaining.
Women's Challenge Cup final line-up revealed
Castlerea Celtic advanced to the Roscommon Women’s Challenge Cup final following a 2–0 win over Boyle Celtic at Castlerea.
Overall, it was a cracking game with two really well taken gaols by Aoife Smyth and Reece Higgins the difference between the sides.
Cam Celtic are also through to the final after a hard earned 3–2 win over Shiven Rovers at Newbridge.
Playing with the aid of storm Kathleen, A Lucy Duncan volley gave Shiven the lead on 28 minutes.
Six minutes later Shiven increased their lead. Sarah Gavin scoring direct from a corner kick.10 minutes into the second-half, Aisling Byrne got on the end of a Marian Nolan cross to pull one back for Cam.
Halfway through the half, Aimee O’Connor volleyed a second to equalise. Aimee O’Connor struck again in additional time to secure a place in the final for Cam Celtic against Castlerea Celtic.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Shield, Kilkerrin United advanced to the final after beating Ballinasloe Town 2–1 at Ballinasloe. Caitlin Boyle and Myra Grogan with the goals.
Kilkerrin will meet Ballaghaderreen in the final after beating St Cuans/Ahascragh United 5–0 at Ahascragh.
In the men's Reserve Division Ballinagare/Manor Utd beat Dunmore Town 3–1 at Dunmore. Aaron Dowd scored twice and Johns Stokes one for the winners with Raman Saman pulling a goal back for the losers.
Roscommon United beat Skyvalley Rovers 3–2 at Taughmaconnell. Warlens Marques, Kavana Donlon and Marcel Gala scored for the winners. Cormack Moore replied for Skyvalley.
Whereas, Boyle Celtic beat C.P Ajax 4–2. Luka Roddy scored two and Mark Battles and Conor Tivnan one each for the winners.
