Mervue Utd trounced by Athenry in FAI Junior Cup

Date Published: 26-Nov-2012

Athenry 5

Mervue United 0

Ten days ago, Mervue United lost their unbeaten record when going down to Hibernians in league action, and a reasonable testament of any side is how they respond to adversity.

Sunday’s FAI Junior Cup tie against an Athenry side who had failed to set the world alight in the early parts of the season appeared to be the perfect opportunity to get back to winning ways, but from the outset this was never on the cards.

It was a strange game as Mervue enjoyed the vast majority of possession, while Athenry did all the scoring.

Indeed, it was deep in additional time before the visitors made home custodian Andrew Walsh work, but two top drawer saves were to ensure Mervue went home even more miserable than they should have.

If Athenry defended well, played it simple and took their chances when they arrived, the same could not be said of the visitors as they conceded some soft goals, and questions will certainly be asked about their defensive cover.

Poor distribution from the back continuously put them under pressure, while marking was certainly an issue for a number of the goals.

As ever in these big games, the initial breakthrough is huge and in contrast to a recent league meeting when Mervue were out of sight after going three up, it was the home side who struck first on this occasion.

It was simple stuff. An Anthony O’Conghaile delivery from the right and a Conor Cannon header for 1-0 lead after 13 minutes.

Mervue responded well to the set-back, but for all their intensity and possession, all they ever reached was the edge of the Athenry box as attack after attack was repelled in this area. Stephen Cunningham and Adam Lee had shots blocked, as Walsh was given top-class cover by his back four.

The Athenry midfield worked extremely hard as they tracked back, and that in turn left the visitors front two of Cunningham and Stephen Larkin squeezed and with no space or areas to run into.

In contrast at the other end, Cathal Fahy and Conor Cannon appeared to enjoy time and room in possession and their contribution of three goals in a testament to their performance.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.