Soccer
Penalty woe for battling Mervue in second leg
Longford Town 3
Mervue United 2
(After extra-time, 3-3 on aggregate, Longford Town win 3-0 on penalties).
THE cheers of celebration from the home fans were almost drowned out by the collective sigh of relief by the suits up in Abbotstown on Friday night as Longford Town booked their place in the Premier Division promotion play-off, finally brining Mervue United’s season to an end.
Months of worry about what to do should Mervue qualify to meet the 11th-placed team in the Premier Division were finally brought to an end, closing the door on a sorry, sorry chapter in the FAI – its complete mismanagement of the whole situation leaving a rotten taste in the mouth.
It took a penalty shoot-out to separate the sides, and it was the home team which carried the day, converting all three of their spot-kicks while the visitors missed all three of their efforts, a sad end to a tie that they contributed handsomely too, although they were second-best for much of Friday’s game.
What Friday night’s defeat does mean, however, is that it is now full-steam ahead for Galway FC, the failure of Mervue United to advance to that top-flight play-off removing the last stage on which to grandstand about next season. All energies can, and should, be focussed on building a strong club which can represent the whole of the city and county in the domestic league.
Johnny Glynn certainly did his prospects of becoming manager of the new side no harm at all with the late run of form of Mervue United, and with Don O’Riordan apparently throwing his hat into the ring for the vacant Finn Harps job, Glynn looks the surest bet in town.
As for Friday night, the game had it all – five goals, extra-time, a sending-off, a penalty shoot-out, but ultimately the team that deserved it most got the victory, and it is Longford who advanced to a two-leg promotion play-off with Bray Wanderers, which was due to have taken plkace last night.
We waxed lyrical on these pages last week about the complete football displaying of Mervue United in the first leg, but it was a different story on Friday night as the home side were by far the superior side, and were thoroughly deserving of the win, although they were made battle all the way for it by a Mervue side that just refused to buckle.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.
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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