Red-hot Mervue United romp to victory at scorching Fahy’s Field

Mervue United 4 Finn Harps  0

Jason Byrne at Fahy’s Field

Mervue United brushed Finn Harps aside in style at a scorching Fahy’s Field on Friday night for their biggest home win of the season, as the visitors’ poor record at the Galway venue continued.

Both sides were up against it from kick-off as temperatures continued to soar, and Finn Harps aimed to record their first ever win at Fahy’s Field after drawing 2-2 in their last visit.

But Mervue were simply too good, and goals from Jason Molloy, Michael Duffy, Ryan Manning and a screamer from Marc Ludden proved the difference.

The hosts had the first chance of the game when former Harps midfielder Gary Curran played a neat ball out to Gary Shanahan on the right, and he let fly but his low shot went inches wide of the far post.

The game was taking time to open up and the visitors first tested Mervue ’keeper Conor Gleeson when a long throw from James Doherty was met by stalwart Kevin McHugh on the volley, but Gleeson made a fine save.

Two minutes later the hosts launched another swift attack when Michael Duffy aimed for Ryan Manning, but the cross was hooked away at the last minute by Aaron O’Hagan.

Mervue hit the front on 19 minutes when Mark Forker clumsily challenged Noel Varley within range and Jason Molloy curled the resulting free kick beautifully into the top left corner.

From here Mervue began to dominate in spells and Harps struggled to gain a foothold in midfield, much to the anger of an animated Peter Hutton on the line.

Harps then created a half chance when McHugh laid it back for Johnny Bonner but he failed to find the target.

Midway through the half during a break in play, the fourth official allowed for a much-needed water break for which almost every player on the pitch obliged such was the heat.

Shortly after the half-hour mark a Manning corner was headed inches over by centre-half Ross Kenny as the Harps defence failed to track him, and two minutes later they were carved open again when Manning’s ball for Duffy left him in space but the offside flag came to their rescue.

A minute later Harps created another rare effort when a Ciaran Coll throw was collected by Forker and his low effort was easily saved by Gleeson.