City clubs return to action after two week break

Date Published: {J}

Keith Kelly

The Airtricity League returns to action this weekend after a two-week break, with both Galway United and Mervue United facing long trips on Friday, while Salthill Devon will enjoy home comforts the following night.

United head to Hunky Dorys Park on Friday to take on a revitalised Drogheda United in a crunch bottom-of-the-table clash (kick-off 7.45pm), with Sean Connor’s side aiming to end a run of six games without a win.

United are six points ahead of Drogheda in the league with the same number of games played, but the Boynesiders would appear to have put their dreadful start to the season behind them, and they have lost just once in four games under new boss Darius Keenan.

Keenan stepped in as caretaker when Alan Matthews resigned after a 6-0 drubbing by Sligo Rovers last month, and he secured the job on a permanent basis after overseeing a draw against Bray and a shock win over St Patrick’s Athletic.

His appointment has revitalised the Louth club, and United never find it easy at what was once called United Park, but Connor’s side urgently needs to start picking up wins as they enter the second half of the season, having won just four of their 17 league games to-date.

In the First Division, Mervue United make the long trek to the south east on Friday night to take on Waterford United (kick-off 7.45pm), who are lying second in the table behind Derry City. Waterford started the season in stunning fashion, winning six of their first seven games, but they have stuttered a little of late and have won just one of their last four.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.