Skyvalley dent ballinasloes hopes but moore fail to profit

 

Ballinasloe Town missed out on the chance of going top of The Herald Premier Division of the Roscommon and District FL last weekend when they were beaten 3-2 by Skyvalley Rovers in a thriller at Onagh Park, Taughmaconnell.

Skyvalley played with the aid of very strong wind in the first half and, despite creating many chances, they had to settle for a 1-0 half-time lead. Emmet Kelly volleyed a fine goal midway through the first half.

Ballinasloe had the aid of the very strong wind in the second half but despite this advantage, it was Rovers who dominated the early stages with Jason Clogher, Conor Duignan, Jack Moore, Brian Croffey and Benny Lynch playing really well.

With 20 minutes remaining, Ballinasloe finally levelled the game when Shane Duffy scored a simple goal from close range. Worse was to follow for Skyvalley when Emmet Kelly, who was earlier their hero, conceded a silly penalty kick for a foul on Shane Duffy and was sent off for a second bookable offence. Darragh Concannon converted the resultant penalty kick.

Despite being a man down and playing against a strong wind, Skyvalley continued to attack and were rewarded at the end of normal time. Ethan Keogh started a passing move which was continued by Conor Duignan, Sean Fahy and Cormac McDonnell, who created an opening for Adrian Mannion to volley to the corner of the Ballinasloe net.

With two minutes played in injury time, Adrian Mannion’s cross reached Sean Fahy, who turned Garry Egan before volleying to the roof of the Ballinasloe net.

Ballinasloe Town have three home games remaining against Dysart, Moore United and Ballaghaderreen.

Third placed Moore United crashed 3-2 away to last season’s champions Dysart and, while not out of the title race, they will rue their last two defeats. They are now five points behind the leaders with three games left to play.

Dysart are still in with an outside chance of catching the leaders but with just two games left to play they will need results to go their way. They are three points behind the leaders but with a game more played.

Playing with the wind in the first half, Dysart won a penalty after six minutes when Ferdie Coyne was fouled and Johnny Kiernan scored his 13th league goal from the penalty spot. Carl Garvin added a second with 34 played and Johnny Kiernan made it 3-0 for Dysart just before half-time.

Mark Butler pulled a goal back for Moore with ten minutes left to play and John Duffy added a second two minutes from the end of normal time, but Dysart held on to win.

Ballaghaderreen remain two points clear of Ballinasloe at the top of the points table despite their game with Cloonfad United falling victim of the weather. They have to play Cloonfad and Castlerea Celtic at home and Ballinasloe away in their three remaining games.

Castlerea Celtic beat Ballymoe FC 2-0 at Castlerea, thanks to goals from Stephen Ryan and Ronan Curran. All the remaining fixtures were victims of the bad weather.

In this weekend’s fixtures, cup action takes centre stage. Ballinasloe and Skyvalley will renew rivalry when their second teams play each other in the semi-finals of the Division 2 Cup tonight (Friday).

RESULTS

The Herald Premier Division
Skyvalley Rovers 3-2 Ballinasloe Town; Dysart FC 3-2 Moore Utd; Ballymoe FC 0-2 Castlerea Celtic.
Killeen Sports Ground Division 2
Skyvalley Rovers 2-0 MD Town B; Loughglynn Utd 1-1 Ballinasloe Town.

FIXTURES

Friday 27th February

Division 2 Cup Semi-Final
Ballinasloe Town B v Skyvalley Rovers B (8pm), M. Devlin

Sunday 1st March
(All games 2pm)

Connacht Junior Cup 4th Round (2pm)
Renmore v Skyvalley Rovers; Cloonfad Utd v Boyle Celtic, E. Deering; MD Town v Corrib Celtic/Calry B;
Ballaghaderreen FC v Castlerea Celtic, S. O’Brien; Corrib Rangers v Ballinasloe Town; Dysart FC v Real Tubber J. McCrossan.
Connacht Shield Quarter-Finals (2pm)
Medtronic v Brazukas; Kilkerrin Utd v Carbury FC, M. Murphy.
The Herald Premier Division (2pm)
Ballymoe FC v Fohenagh FC, H. Loughnane,
Division 1 Cup Quarter-Finals (2pm)
St John’s Athletic v Ballaghaderreen FC, R. Stokes; Ahascragh Utd v Rahara Rovers, T. Cormican.
Division 2 Cup Semi Final
CP Ajax v MD Town B, A. Goncalves.

NOTE

All Cup & Shield games decided on the day. If still a draw after 90 minutes plus one period of extra-time, ten minutes each way. FIFA rules on penalties to apply.