Last season’s top two begin the new campaign in style

It is almost as ever nothing has changed as the top two of last season run up convincing wins on the opening day of the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division campaign.

It was also an occasion where new signings made some crucial contributions at their new clubs as Barry Moran notched a hat-trick as Mervue United got their campaign off to a winning start; while Gerry Dolan and Brian Duhan both scored twice for Corrib Rangers as they easily dismissed East United.

Mervue United 4 Hibernians 1

Two set-piece goals each side of the break helped Mervue United break their duck in a contest that certainly had not gone their way in the opening half at Fahy’s Field on Sunday morning.

However, once they made the breakthrough they pulled away with ease, as they were by far the better side in the second half and while Hibernians matched them in the last quarter, by then the game was long gone from their grasp.

New faces were certainly very much in focus, as the usual merry-go-round of players on the move between clubs saw 12 new players start between the two teams.

Certainly former Rangers duo Barry Moran and Simon Walsh were very much to the forefront of the home success, along with fellow newcomers Dan Tuck (Oughterard), Barry McEntee (West United) and Eoin O’Boyle who moved up from the club’s B team.

Hibernians fielded three former OLBC personal in Ronan Caldwell, Barry Molyneux and Damien Carter, along with ex-Rangers duo Paul Fitzpatrick and Dave Smith. Former Mervue schoolboy Evan Browne lined out at left-full and faced his uncle, Eric, down the line at right-back, while former Salthill Devon and West player Conor Murray completed the new starting faces for the Bohermore outfit.

Without a doubt it was Moran who left the more lasting impression as his two opening goals displayed all his predator instincts, where goal poaching is his forte. However he showed his class also with a stunning strike for the third.

While neither goal was over extended in the opening half, it certainly appeared that it was Hibernians who offered the greater threat going forward. Neither goalkeeper was overworked, although home custodian Brian O’Donoghue dealt well with the rare efforts on target and his save from Dave Smith on 28 minutes was the highlight.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.