Local soccer club marks 50th anniversary in style
Although temperatures were freezing and not for the faint-hearted last Friday, it remained a momentous occasion for South Roscommon soccer club Moore United as they marked their 50th anniversary by reclaiming top spot in the Roscommon & District Football League Premier Division.
The visitors to Lecarrow for the occasion were Castlerea Celtic and all that seperated the sides in a tough encounter was an 85th-minute winner by Sean Fortune, converted after great combination play by Jack Nevin and Josh Lennon.
Moore will now look to defend its position at the top of the table when they face local rivals Skyvalley Rovers at Lecarrow this coming Sunday.
Moore Utd was first founded after a meeting at Moore Hall in October 1975 as Micheal Grenham was elected as Chairperson, Pat Higgins as Secretary, and Martin Craven as Treasurer.
Blue was the chosen colour for the jersey as this was traditionally worn by athletes and GAA teams from the parish.
Two important events took place around the time with Falty school closing in October 1976 before amalgamating with Earlspark and Clonfad into the new St Ciaran’s NS.
There was an excellent field at the school which had already hosted a children’s sports day and inter schools GAA games and football matches. Also at the time Moore Community Council, which was formed in 1974, conducted a survey in the parish to see if people thought the field at Falty should be acquired as a sports field.
There was a very large positive response to the question and the Community Council put in train negotiations with the Church authorities and the Department of Education to secure the field. A friendly match soon followed, a 3-0 defeat to Skyvalley Rovers, when preparations were so rushed that a rope, in fact, was used in place of one of the crossbars.
The club then entered the Roscommon Cup and in January 1976 Moore travelled to take on Loughglynn/Tarmon at their pitch (where CP Ajax now play).
It had snowed the previous night and after a very even contest the only goal was scored by Loughglynn/Tarmon. However, by winning by a single goal on the occasion of its 50th birthday, Moore Utd had come full circle to celebrate a most momentous milestone for the club.