Mervue Utd and Hibernians ease into next round of FAI Junior Cup

MERVUE United and Hibernians will front the Galway League challenge in the last 64 of the FAI Junior Cup as they saw off First Division opposition at the weekend to comfortably advance from their fourth round contests against Salthill Devon and Maree/Oranmore respectively,

Meanwhile, in the only Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division game played, Corrib Rangers survived an anxious finish to overcome third placed Corrib Celtic and go back to the top of the table.

Salthill Devon  1

Mervue United 4

This was a potential banana skin for the top flight side, but apart from an early spell, once the visitors took the lead at Drom on Saturday night, they seldom looked like slipping up. Two up at the break, they always enjoyed the edge and seldom allowed Salthill Devon a chance to get back into it.

The home side certainly offered the greater threat in the opening quarter, but a just a shot against a post threatened Peter Healy’s goal. Mervue made the crucial breakthrough on 15 minutes when Tommy Walsh, Barry Moran and Shane Keogh did the spadework as Simon Walsh swept home the opener.

They almost added a second on the half hour mark when Dara Ryan and Stephen Cunningham were thwarted by the woodwork, while Ryan also had an effort taken off the line in the same attack.

Mervue United made it 2-0 after 35 minutes when a Tommy Walsh delivery took a deflection off for the concession of an own goal and the visitors put the game beyond doubt three minutes after the restart when Simon Walsh was again the finisher as Moran provided the assist.

A Breen Geraghty penalty offered Devon a life line on 73 minutes after Keith McHugh fouled Victor in the box, but they seldom threatened a comeback and, in the final minute, Stephen Cunningham slotted home another spot kick after he was upended in the area.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.