Soccer
Mervue Utd strive to get back on track in tie with table toppers
Keith Kelly
MERVUE United will hope to get their First Division campaign back on track in Fahy’s Field tonight when they host league leaders Longford Town (7.45pm).
Johnny Glynn’s side slipped to third in the table last weekend when going down by the only goal of the game against Finn Harps and, in the process, fall six points behind tonight’s visitors, who they drew 1-1 with in Longford back in April.
That was a game the city side should have won comfortably, a bluntness in front of goal costing them a deserved three points, but they have never enjoyed much luck at the Strokestown Road venue, that game being their eighth visit to the ground, none of which has seen them record a win.
They have made their best-ever start to the League of Ireland this season, with last weekend’s reversal at the hands of Finn Harps being just their second defeat of the season, and they are unbeaten in five home games in the current campaign.
Mervue go into tonight’s game on the back of two defeats – they followed up that loss to Finn Harps with a 4-0 loss at the hands of Sligo Rovers in the EA Sports League Cup in the Showgrounds on Monday night.
That reversal needs to be put into perspective, as the hosts fielded an almost full-strength side, while Glynn was without six of the players who started the game against Harps. That meant it was always a tall order for Mervue, and it was made more difficult when they were reduced to ten men after just 18 minutes, Barry O’Mahony receiving a straight red card for handball on the line, and as a result he is suspended for tonight’s game.
Salthill Devon go into their game away to Cobh Ramblers tomorrow night also on the back of two defeats, but in very different circumstances. Athlone Town scored a last minute winner to take all three points in the league in Drom on Friday night; while Devon were knocked out of the EA Sports League Cup by St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday night, but only thanks to two late goals in extra time.
Devon took the lead in the 51st minute through Enda Curran, only to be pegged back nine minutes later through a Cian Fadden own goal. They took the lead again four minutes before the end of the first period of extra-time through Brian Geraghty, but Pat’s equalised for a second time five minutes from time, and hit the winner with two minutes remaining.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Friday the 13th – unlucky for some – and Galway United will be hoping it is an unlucky night for runaway leaders Shelbourne on Friday evening. Shels, who are currently 10 points clear of second place United, are still unbeaten in this year’s First Division with 12 wins and six draws to their name.
The Tribesmen go into this week’s pivotal fixture after a disappointing 3-2 defeat against Cork City last Friday at Eamonn Deacy Park. The game had a ‘hit-and-run’ feel to it as Colin Healy’s side snatched all three points with ten minutes to go which ended United’s seven-game unbeaten league run.
BY TOM BYRNE
Even so, United replaced Treaty United in second place on goal difference after the Limerick outfit were defeated 4-1 by Cabinteely at the Markets Field.
Shelbourne have been the team to beat this season as they look odds-on to win this season’s First Division with nine games to go. Ian Morris’ side were hampered by a number of Covid cases in their squad for last week’s game against UCD, where they drew 0-0 at the UCD Bowl. It is expected that they will have players returning for their crucial clash against United at Terryland.
The two clubs have faced each other on 75 occasions. Shelbourne being victorious the more often with 39 wins, United defeating the north-Dubliners 17 times and 19 games ending in stalemate. United have hit the Shels net 86 times while the 2019 First Division winners have scored on 132 occasions against United.
The two teams played out a 0-0 draw at Eamonn Deacy Park in the first game this season, while Shelbourne had the upper hand in the reverse fixture when they overcame United 4-0 at Tolka Park in May.
Goal friendly Shels have struck 36 goals in 18 games so far this campaign, with former Shamrock Rovers man Ryan Brennan bagging ten of those. United will look to Wilson Waweru and Ruairi Keating for their main source of goals, with the latter hitting the net on seven occasions this season. Waweru brought his goal tally to six last week when he scored United’s first equalising goal against Cork City.
This is a shortened preview version of this article. To read the rest of the soccer preview, see this week’s Galway City Tribune. You can buy a digital edition HERE.
Galway United 2
Athlone Town 2
GALWAY United had to twice come from behind against basement side Athlone Town on Monday night to snatch a draw that was, on balance, probably a little harsh on the visiting side.
Completely outplayed in the opening 45 minutes, United had an absolute howler from visiting goalkeeper, Aaron Myles, to thank for going into the break on level terms; and then needed an equaliser five minutes from time to claim a draw against a side that came into the game having lost all four games they had played this season.
Alan Murphy’s side already find themselves nine points behind the league leaders just four games into the season, and a major improvement is needed if they are to finish in the top half of the table and inside the play-off spots.
Their central midfield was way off the mark on Monday night – both Maurice Nugent and Sam Warde were hauled ashore before the final whistle – and having abandoned the 4-4-2 formation which delivered some decent results near the end of last season, they are struggling to get quality ball into the opposition box.
With Shane Duggan expected to return to central midfield after suspension for this Saturday’s trip to Cobh Ramblers, it might be time to go with some out-and-out wingers and get some cohesion in the side.
The first couple of half chances on Monday fell to the home side, but Mikey Place didn’t get any power behind his second minute effort; while Marc Ludden was well off target subsequently.
The visitors, who had the opening half’s best player in their ranks in the guise of Galway native, Ronan Manning, went close a couple of times themselves in the ninth minute, United surviving thanks to Cian Murphy getting a block on Adam Lennon’s shot; while Kevin Horgan pulled off a ‘worldie’ to deny Joel Coustrain from the subsequent corner.
By that stage, the visitors were starting to get on top, and they took a deserved lead in the 22nd minute when Manning’s corner from the left was met by Taner Dogan at the back post to head home as the United marking was, not for the first time this season, shambolic at a set-piece.
Tempers were starting to fray a little, with both sides having two players finding their way into the notebook of Dublin referee, Oliver Moran, before United were gifted an equaliser in the 41st minute.
Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune
Paul Corcorcan
GALWAY WFC notched a second win in a row in the Women’s National League when they defeated Limerick 6-1 at the Markets Field on Sunday afternoon.
A McKenna Doyle hat trick and goals from Sadbh Doyle, Chloe Singleton and Aoife Thompson helped the Galway women to a resounding win. Five of the six goals for Galway were assisted by Lynsey McKey during what was a stellar performance by the experienced midfielder.
Galway WFC are back in action at Eamonn Deacy Park tomorrow (Saturday, kick off 3pm) when they welcome league leaders Peamount United.
See full match report in City Tribune Sport.
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