Mervue and Salthill Devon in last derby league showdown?

MERVUE United and Salthill Devon will possibly clash for the very last time in what could be an historic League of Ireland Airtricity First Division fixture at Drom this evening, Friday (7:45pm).

With the FAI promoting an all-inclusive Galway representation in the League for next season, it looks as if both City clubs will not have their licences renewed to compete at this level and, instead, will be absorbed into a new ‘Galway United’ like structure.

Consequently, there is a sense of history about this evening’s fixture with more than just the bragging rights on offer and Salthill Devon mentor John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan arguably best summed up this sentiment by succinctly uttering one word: ‘Pride’.

“I think it will be more down to pride than to anything else. From our point of view, Mervue have beaten us three times already this season (between League and Cup) although there has not been a lot between the teams in those games. So, for us, it is about getting a result. We do owe them one.”

Given Salthill Devon are bottom of the league, by that rationale, they owe a lot of teams ‘one’ but in fairness to Brennan he has had his share of troubles over their 2013 campaign. “I have lost an awful lot of players for one reason or another,”  he confides.

“From the start of the season, we have lost 10 players from our starting 11 and that has hit us pretty hard. That said, it has provided an opportunity for some of our younger lads to get some experience at this level.”

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