Mervue Utd again the ones to beat in new junior season

It is just over three months since Mervue United collected a third Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division title in succession and on Sunday next they start all over again in their quest to maintain their domination on the top flight.

Clear winners by nine points from second placed Corrib Rangers last season, those looking into a crystal ball to see where their closest challengers are, are probably not getting any great response. The indications are that Mervue United are going to be odds on favourites to retain their title and it is very difficult to see where a serious challenge is going to come from.

As ever, the off-season allows a huge amount of movement of players between clubs, but it is only once the campaign kicks off that one can confirm who is actually going to play for whom.

The Mervue joint management team of Gary O’Connor and Ger McGrath have been busy welcoming new players with the prospect of up to eight players joining an already packed and experienced squad.

Barry Moran and Simon Walsh have moved across the city from Rangers, while Barry McEntee has returned to his roots after a stint with West. Central defender Enda Cullen has moved from Salthill Devon, with Seamie Crowe, Dan Tuck and Cormac Clougher other potential signings. Shane Keogh is also a newcomer at this level, after previously performing for Mervue at U-19 and League of Ireland level.

They have lost two players with Paul Sinnott now playing with the League of Ireland side, while central defender Vinny O’Connor is moving to Bearna Na Forbacha. Tommy Walsh, Adam Lee and Eoin Concannon, as well as Crowe all still involved in championship action for St James and Salthill Knocknacarra, it is understood that they will see out their Gaelic football commitments with those clubs, before they return to Mervue United.

No doubt competition for places will add to the competitiveness of Mervue and as O’Connor said “keeping all the players in a big squad happy will be a huge task, but they are all aware of the situation and hopefully it will add to our quality and keep us in contention at the right end of the table”.

Both Mervue and Rangers collected full points from their opening six games last season, but on this occasion, they meet in the second game of the campaign.

There certainly appears to be a changing of the guard at Corrib Rangers, with manager Brendan O’Connor adding a lot of younger players to add to his already seasoned squad. With almost half of last season’s side moving on, there will be a lot of new faces at Westside this season.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.