Shanahan strikes again to keep Mervue promotion hopes alive

Mervue United 1 Waterford United 0

Mervue United kept their hopes of a top three finish alive as a late Gary Shanahan strike was enough to sink Waterford United at Fahy’s Field on Saturday evening.

With four games to go, back-to-back 1-0 wins over Salthill Devon and Saturday’s visitors have left the First Division table wide open again, as Johnny Glynn’s men ensured a third win over the Blues this season.

The rainy evening began with Danny Furlong’s  dipping effort for the visitors being tipped over by Conor O’Malley, and a minute later an effort from Conor Meade was cleared off the line by Gary Curran.

O’Malley made two more comfortable saves too deny Philip Drohan and Meade, before Mervue’s first meaningful effort saw Ryan Manning’s free kick saved by Craig Hyland midway through the half.

Marc Ludden then ended a fine run on the left with a decent cross aimed at Shanahan, but the winger headed well over the target with Mervue beginning to gain a foothold in the middle.

As half-time approached, Shanahan played a neat exchange with skipper Tom King but Shanahan again failed to keep his shot down and Hyland watched it sail over his bar.

After the restart Mervue had a decent claim for a penalty waved away by Rhona Daly when Manning was upended in the box, and a minute later Jason Molloy had a decent effort blocked clear by Paddy Barrett.

On the hour mark at the other end, Furlong was denied by a great save from O’Malley as the goalkeepers began to get busy but didn’t look like being beaten.

On 65 minutes Manning darted up the right flank and picked out Shanahan – but somehow his effort from point-blank range was somehow blocked by Hyland.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.