St John’s prepare to defend Premier crown

Next weekend sees the start of the 55th season of football for the Roscommon and District League.

It’s a measure of the League when it will have a record number of teams competing in the 2025/26 season. This season will see no less than four divisions and one division of women’s teams. In all, there are 31 senior men’s teams and eight teams competing in the Women’s League

The League welcome newcomers Ballinahown (based near the Westmeath/Offaly border), the Carrick-on-Shannon side Carrick Town the Ballyleague/Lanesboro side Ballyboro, the Ballinlough side Lough Harps and Ballinagare. The Ballyleague Lanesboro side were one of the founder members of the League having played back in the early 1970s as Boro Celtic. Carrick Town also played in the League in the early years while Lough Harps and Ballinagare never cut their ties to the league.

Then RDFL wishes all the new Clubs all the very best in the coming season.

Just the Premier and First Divisions teams are in action this weekend. Last season’s champions St John's Athletic begin the defence of their title at home to Dunmore Town with a 2pm kick-off next Sunday. It’s the first time for Dunmore to play in the Premier Division having come through three play off matches last season to gain promotion. The home side will start favourites, but it will not be an easy game for they. Moore United slipped up on the very last game of the season and as a result finished as runners up. They will start favourites to beat Shiven Rovers when they play at Lecarrow at the same time.

Boyle Celtic finished third with a defeat away to Moore in their last game costing them dearly. They have a home game against last season Division 1 champions Skyvalley Rovers. Boyle will start as favourites.

Castlerea Celtic were very inconsistent last season and they slipped back the table near the end.

They take on neighbours Ballymoe FC at Castlerea on Friday evening with a kick-off time of 8pm. A real local derby game that could go either way. Division 1 is by tradition always a very close and hard-fought division. The team that wins this division will have it well earned. New side Ballinahown make the long journey to Ballaghaderreen. The home side were League champions the season before last but were relegated last season. This will be a very interesting game.

Castleplunket side CP Ajax should beat a newly promoted Kilkerrin United side when they play at Tarmon. Ballinasloe Town find themselves in Division 1 for the second season and will have to be at their best if they are to beat Cloonfad when they play at Ballinasloe. Moylough barely missed out on Promotion to the Premier Division last season and they should overcome St John's second side when they play at Moylough. All games in Division 1 kick off at 2pm on Sunday (see fixtures on page 61).