Cup wins for Salthill Devon and Bearna Na Forbacha

LOCAL SOCCER WRAP WITH MIKE RAFFERTY

After a lean spell in which they exited the FAI Junior Cup, Connacht Junior Cup and lost in the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division at home against West United, Mervue United made short work of seeing off bottom side Maree/Oranmore 5-1 on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors had to come from behind in order to achieve their success as a Malachy Black goal gave the home side an early lead, before Stephen Larkin applied a far post finish to a Barry Moran cross to leave matters level at 1-1 at the break.

A short corner routine set their second goal in motion as Jason Molloy whipped home a cracking effort from the edge of the box to make it 2-1.

Thereafter the contest became the Andrew Connolly show as the striker displayed all the finishing skills of his Brighton and Irish International brother, Aaron, to notch a hat-trick with three similiar goals as he got on the end of through balls that exposed the home defence and were gleefully accepted by the man who looks like he will be filling the scoring boots of departed striker Enda Curran.

The win moves Gareth Gorman’s side four points clear of second placed Salthill Devon, who have two games in hand on the table toppers. Behind them lie Athenry and West United, and all four will be looking to maintain a title challenge in the closing months of the season.

With Maree/Oranmore not picking up any reward, Hibernians moved off the bottom of the table as they picked up a crucial point in a scoreless draw with Corrib Rangers in Bohermore.

The big winners in the lower half of the table were St Bernard’s as they were making it three league wins from their last four games with a 4-1 home success over Corrib Celtic.

Goals by Cillain Lardner and Matt Cosgrove had them two up at the break, before Shane King and Cosgrove with his second eased them to a comfortable success and moved them out of the bottom two in the table. David Coen got a late consolation goal for the visitors who lie sixth in the table, but will be continiously looking over their shoulder at the teams below them, as they are just five points clear of the basement.

The remaining game schedule between Loughrea and West United was postponed on Sunday moring due to an unplayable pitch.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

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