Moore and Ballinasloe fall short
The Moore United team that were defeated by Manulla FC in Sunday's Connacht Cup encounter at Moore. Pictures: Gerard O'Loughlin
Both Moore United and Ballinasloe Town were knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup by the narrowest of margins on Sunday last.
Ballinasloe Town travelled to Sligo where they were edged out 1-0 by Sligo/Leitrim Super League side, Strand Celtic. It was a close, hard-fought game that could have been won by either side.
Moore United and Mayo Super League side Manulla FC were involved in a five-goal thriller at Moore, but a Player of the Match performance from an inspired Manulla goalkeeper left the home side disappointed on a 3-2 scoreline.
Moore started on the front foot and should have taken an early lead. However, a quick break from the visitors resulted in Cian Benson scoring in the fifth minute. The Manulla ‘keeper denied Moore an equaliser with three excellent saves. Just before the break, Shea Benson took advantage of hesitancy in the Moore defence and handed the visitors a 2-0 advantage at half time.
It got worse for the home side when Cian Benson volleyed a third for Manulla after 65 minutes. However, Moore never gave up and Charles Nevin and Josh Lennon pulled two back with eight minutes of play remaining. Moore were sure they had an equaliser in the last minute but somehow a combination of the goalkeeper and a defender cleared the ball off the line.
In the only game played in the Premier Division of the Roscommon and District League, Ballaghaderreen recorded a surprising 7-0 win over CP Ajax at Tarmon. The winners raced into a 4-0 lead and the game was over as a contest by half time.
Tom Ward scored four for Ballaghaderreen, and Danny Browne, Leon Sinnott and Oisín Horan added one each for the winners. Ballaghaderreen now share top spot with Boyle Celtic in the Premier Division.
In Division One North, Dunmore Town went top of the points table by beating Glen Celtic 3-2 at Dunmore. A fast and frantic first 25 minutes saw Dunmore go 1-0 ahead through a 20-metre strike from Padraig Martyn. The Glenamaddy-based side were level ten minutes later through Michael Heneghan following a corner kick. Gavin Hegarty scored a second for Glen Celtic five minutes later but Padraig Martyn levelled the game just before half time.
Early in the second half, Shane Davis fed Declan Forde with an excellent through ball and he raced through and slotted home the winner.
Ballymoe FC beat Ballaghaderreen’s second side 4-1 at Ballymoe. Damien Goggins and Eoin Morgan gave Ballymoe a 2-0 half-time lead. Paul Flanagan and Eoin Morgan added two more in the second half. Josh Carney replied for Ballaghaderreen.
The Cloonfad United versus Kilkerrin United game was postponed due to bereavement In Division One South, Skyvalley Rovers have gone top of the points table but they have more games played than the chasing pack.
Skyvalley recorded a 3-0 win over Rahara Rovers at Taughmaconnell. In a really hard fought and even match, the home side were 1-0 ahead at the break, thanks to an Eoin Keogh goal. Rahara missed from the penalty spot early in the second half and it proved costly when Mike Garvey and Cormac Moore added two more for Skyvalley Rovers before the end.
Cam Celtic/Dysart beat St. Cuan’s/Ahascragh United 2-1 at Cam. Ben Moran and Ronan Doyle scored for the winners. Cameron O’Leary replied for St. Cuan’s/Ahascragh United.
Boyle Celtic recorded a hard-earned 2-1 win over Ballinasloe Town at Ballinasloe in the Women’s League. The home side went 1-0 ahead early in the game, thanks to a fine strike from Amanda Lynch. The visitors levelled the contest before half time through Anna McGrath. They added a second early in the second half through Sheridan Takahara. Amanda Lynch came close to levelling the game in the closing minutes but her volley came back off the crossbar.
Kilkerrin United had an 9-1 win over a very young St. Cuan’s/ Ahascragh United side at Kilkerrin. Katie McGann and Mya Grogan scored two each for the winners. Aoife Collins, Aisling Walsh Costello, Siobhan Fahy, Samantha Fahy and Sarah Ward also added one goal each to their side’s tally.
Shiven Rovers defeated Castlerea Celtic 5-0 at Newbridge in a game that was much closer than the scoreline suggests. Lucy Dunican gave the home side the lead after seven minutes. Ciara Lally added a second before Lucy Dunican added her second for the winners just before half time. In the second half, Sarah Gavin and Ciara Lally added two more.
