In the Norio’s sponsored Roscommon & District League Premier Division, St. Johns Athletic took a major step towards retaining their Premier crown beating Moore United 5–1 at Lecarrow on Sunday.
While the result was rarely in doubt it was only in the closing stages of the game, where they took full control and scored three times in the last 10 minutes.
Tommy Hurley broke the deadlock with 27 minutes played and Cian Kelly added a second on 64 minutes. Kevin Brennan, Cian Kelly and Conor Devaney scored the three late goals with Rian Carpenter getting a consolation goal in the closing minutes of the game.
St. John’s are now six points ahead of their nearest challengers Boyle Celtic with four games remaining.
Elsewhere, Boyle Celtic were held to a 2–2 draw away to Dunmore Town. Thomas Gleeson gave Dunmore the lead after 23 minutes.
Luke McGrath replied for Boyle Celtic just before half-time. Michael Corrigan gave Boyle a 2–1 lead on 66 minutes. However, Morgan Gorham levelled the game with 10 minutes remaining.
Castlerea Celtic are 10 points behind the leaders but have played a game less. Castlerea beat Skyvalley Rovers 2–0 at Taughmaconnell.
Overall, it was a tight enough game with very few chances. Kailin Barlow opened the scoring for Castlerea Celtic after 30 minutes, following a great cross by Jarlath Geraghty.
Gerry Ward added a second near the end of the game after great work on the right wing by Barlow.
Ballymoe F.C all but ended their relegation worries when they beat Shiven Rovers 3–1 at Newbridge.
Michael Doyle gave the hosts an early lead but Conor Kennedy and Damien Goggins gave Ballymoe a 2–1 lead on the half-hour.
Shiven fight back but not enough
Shiven were well in the game for long periods before a Gerry Connaughton goal sealed all three points for Ballymoe.
In a local derby game in the PK Trailers Division 1 Moylough hosted Kilkerrin United at Moylough and came away with a 3–1 win over Kilkerrin United but are still eight points behind second placed St. Johns Athletic.
Kilkerrin started well and were a goal up through Oisin Keane after 15 minutes. Kilkerrin had more chances to stretch their lead but failed to take them.
Leo Donnellan was put through on goal before half-time, and he rounded the Kilkerrin keeper to leave the sides level at the break.
Moylough were better in the second-half and Dermott Hughes won a penalty kick which he converted. Kilkerrin missed a great chance to level the game when awarded a penalty. However, they failed to convert.
The hosts made sure of all three points when Tom Shaughnessy added a third for Moylough with 11 minutes remaining.
Ballaghaderreen had a morale boosting 3–2 win over CP Ajax in a game played at Ballaghaderreen.
Overall, it was a very close game which could have been won by either side.
Liam Frain gave Ajax a 1–0 lead after five minutes. Nathan Doory levelled the game. Danny Browne came on for Ballaghaderreen after a long rest and volleyed to the net two minutes later.
Liam Frain scored his second with 10 minutes remaining. Tadgh Jordan replied for the losers, but they failed to get an equaliser.
In the Killeen’s Sports fields Division 2, Roscommon United beat Castlerea Celtic’s second side 3–1 at Lecarrow. Michael Conroy gave the Castlerea side a 1–0 lead after 27 minutes.
Division two wrap up
However, Mark Dwyer had the side’s level at half-time. Kavanagh Donlon and Mark Dwyer added two more in the last 15 minutes to seal all three points for the Town side.
Carrick Town beat Moore “B” 6–2 at Carrick-on-Shannon to keep their hopes of catching leaders Glen Celtic who have a ten-point advantage.
Eoin Hamilton gave the hosts a lead with 10 minutes played but C. Macken levelled the game omn 20 minutes.
Michael Murtagh, Eoin Hamilton and Tobi Amas added three more for the winners before half-time. In the second-half Narada Patrasco and Niall Bambrick made it six with Mackin replying for Moore United.
Cam Celtic/Dysart beat a young St. Cuans Ahascragh United side 8–4 in a real thriller Ahascragh.
James Kelly opened the scoring for the visitors in the first minute, but Liam O Connor had the sides level with twenty-two played. Alex Duke struck a second for the home side to give them a 2- 1 lead.
Jack Ryan scored two and Peter Cummins one to give the winners a 4 -2 lead but Liam O Connor completed his had thick before Jack Ryan Ben Moran Daniel Kelly and Steve Tansey completed the scoring for Cam Celtic / Dysart.
Rahara Roers were made to battle all the way before they overcame Roscommon United “B” on a 3–2 score-line at Rahara.
The sides were level 1–1 at half-time. Szymon Sikorski gave United a 1–0 lead but Niall Keenan replied for Rahara on the half-hour.
Shane McAndrews scored two more for Rahara before Romarion Silva pulled a goal back with just a few minutes remaining.
Boyle B beat Ballyboro
Boyle Celtic “B” beat Ballyboro FC 4–2 at Boyle. Isaak Said gave Boyle an early lead but Aidan Dooney and David Rooney had Ballyboro 2–1 ahead after 42 minutes.
Callum Andrews levelled the game just before the break and added a second just after half-time. Boyle added a fourth with six minutes remaining.
In the first Round of the Joe Kelly’s Challenge Cup the top two in Division 1 clashed at Lecarrow.
League leaders Ballinahown progressed to the next round with a 2–0 victory over St. Johns Athletic “B” team.
Eoin O’Reilly broke the deadlock on 48 minutes and Luke Kelly added a second after 67 minutes. The Lough Harps V Cloonfad “B“ game was postponed.
Women's round-up
In the Connacht Women’s Cup Round 1, Boyle lost 2-1 to Yeats United with Aoife Lyons scoring for an unlucky Boyle Celtic.
Castlerea Celtic advanced against Bearna Na Forbacha and Dunmore lost 5–0 to a stronger Mervue United.
In the Connacht U-18 Girls Cup Dunmore Town beat Salthill Devon 3–2 at Dunmore with Sarah Harnett, Megan Healy and Hazel McGuire scoring their goals.
The Connacht U-18 Shield game; Dunmore Town v Ballisodare was postponed for a week.
