Shoot-out agony for Mervue U20’s

Date Published: 20-Jan-2009

A PENALTY shootout loss is gut wrenching at any stage, but with a place in the final of the Eircom U20 League at stake it made the defeat against the Dublin visitors all the harder to take for Mervue United at Fahy’s Field on Sunday afternoon.

Mervue did everything asked of them and while they might have fallen short in the creativity and finishing stakes they more than matched their more illustrious opponents throughout the park.

Even their achievements in taking the tie to extra time was memorable as they did so with just ten men following the dismissal of Dave O’Brien on just 40 minutes.

The sending off seemed harsh as the young right full flew into a hard challenge on James Goggins, but a straight red card was issued by Tullamore referee Brendan Kelly and maybe the youngster’s verbal lash at a linesman seconds earlier didn’t help his cause.

The dismissal led to some restructuring and right sided midfielder Kevin Barrett wasn’t exactly smiling when called ashore to allow Micheal Lundy on at right back, while Alex Lee dropped back in midfield.

Despite having the backing of the strong elements in the opening half the home side seldom
threatened a breakthrough, as just a series of corners about the half hour mark offered any enjoyment. An in-swinger by Dan Cunningham was cleared off the line at the near post by Philip Hand, while the next effort by Kenny Farrell clipped the top of the crossbar. The next delivery was cleared out to Mike Elwood, but his finish was wayward as it flew wide.

While the back four was holding its own and the midfield were functional they struggled to get any sort of supply to the front pair of Neil Douglas and Lee and the outcome was that the Bohs rearguard had a pretty routine afternoon.

The Dublin side were…