High flying Mervue United youths squad on the brink

Date Published: {J}

MERVUE Utd’s Youth team will contest the club’s first ever FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup final on Sunday when they take on Fairview Rangers in Limerick at Jackman Park (kick-off 2pm).

This Mervue side have been impressive in their march to the national final with some excellent performances along the way.

The side is backboned by some of the club’s Airtricity League side, with players like Pat Hoban, Dan Cunningham, Enda Curran, Mike Elwood and Barry McEntee, who have all established themselves as regulars in Tom French’s side this season.

Paul Scally, Phillip Ryan, Shane Keogh and goalkeeper Conor Winn have also featured in the club’s Airtricity League squad this season. On their way to the final, Jaralth Connolly and Justin Neary’s side have defeated Roscommon Town, Westport Utd, Cork City, Clonmel Town and Newbridge Town.

In the last sixteen, they defeated a fancied Cork City side as two second half goals from Pat Hoban saw the home side through to the last eight in a competitive game. In that quarter-final, Mervue overcame Clonmel Town with a devastating first half display. A goal down after just seven minutes, the home team stormed back into the game scoring four times in the first half to lead 4-1 at the break.

Goals from Enda Curran, Dan Cunningham and two from Pat Hoban inside a 17 minute spell proved decisive. Despite Clonmel pulling two second half goals back, Irish schools international Billy Lane added a fifth as Mervue ran out 5-3 winners.

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