Mervue and Salthill still seeking elusive first win

Date Published: 29-Apr-2010

STEPHEN GLENNON

IT will be a hectic Bank Holiday weekend for Salthill Devon and Mervue United as they both face into two tough First Division games over the next five days.Salthill Devon will host a high flying Derry City outfit, who have won their last five games to climb to second on the table, just two points behind league leaders Waterford United. Devon Head Coach Emlyn Long says that they are a side to be respected.

“They are the form team in the league at the moment, having won the last five matches in a row,” says Long. “So, this will be a very big step up for us, but that is why we entered the league. In the next week, we will play two of the biggest names in the country, in Derry and Cork.

”For the clash with Derry City in Drom on Saturday (7pm), Devon will be without influential trio, Breen Geraghty (groin), Mikey Gilmore (hamstring) and Shane Browne (suspended), although Browne will be available to the trip to Cork City on Tuesday (kick-off 7:45pm).

Both Geraghty and Gilmore will be out for a number of weeks after picking up their injuries in the dramatic 2-2 derby draw against Devon.“It felt more like a win, given we scored the goal so late in the game,” beams Long.

“There has been a good buzz around all week, and the fact that, last weekend, we were awarded the three points (after Wexford fielded a suspended player in the previous league meeting between the two) also meant that we moved up the table.”

Indeed, Salthill leapfrogged over both local rivals Mervue United, now rooted firmly to the foot of the table, and Wexford Youths, on goal difference, following their precious point against the former and the sanctioning of the latter.

“We are no longer on the bottom, for this week anyway. It is a long season, though, and you don’t know what will happen next. I mean, four weeks ago, Derry were fourth from bottom, but five wins later and they are up to second in the table.

The teams are so close together, that one or two results can make a huge difference to a team’s league position,” says Devon’s head coach, who welcomes back Sean Murphy from suspension for this Saturday evening’s First Division clash.Meanwhile, Mervue United face Shelbourne FC and Monaghan United this evening and Monday respectively.

Having conceded that late, late goal to Salthill Devon – so denying them all three points – in the derby fixture last weekend, manager Tom French admitted his side was very disappointed with last Saturday’s result.

“I was disappointed, very disappointed,” admits Mervue United manager Tom French. “I felt we had played really well, and that we dominated the second half. I think if we got another goal, it would have killed the game off. They never really looked like scoring in the second half and the first shot they had on target was when they scored the equaliser in injury-time. That is what can happen though when you are only leading by a goal.“

So, we were disappointed alright, and we did look at it as a couple of points dropped. But that has been the story of our season so far. This was the fifth game that we thought we should have come away with something more than we did.”

In any event, Mervue – who will be without striker David O’Dowd (knee) – must rouse themselves for the trip to Tolka Park tonight (Friday) for the 8pm kick-off. With a home tie against Monaghan the following Monday (7:45pm), it could be a difficult four days for the Galway City outfit.“Shelbourne will fancy themselves up there, but that might work in our favour as well,” says French.

“We have Monaghan at home then on Monday night. Monaghan are doing really well, so that will be another tough test for us. That said, I think the lads just want to get back out on the pitch after last weekend’s game.”