Stakes are high in derby clash

STEPHEN GLENNON

MERVUE United and Salthill Devon will lock horns for the third time in the Airtricity League First Division this season when they meet in Fahy’s Field on Saturday (5pm) – in a game that has greater significance for the outfit on the East side of the City than it does for their West end opponents.

Quite simply, if fifth placed Mervue are to keep pace with those teams above them in the First Division table they must secure all three points in this derby fixture. Otherwise, after a bright start to their campaign, they could slump further down the league table and, possibly, finish the season lingering with Devon at the bottom.

That would be a serious reversal in fortunes given all they have invested in the current campaign but despite a 3-0 loss away to Athlone Town last Friday, Mervue boss Johnny Glynn was remaining upbeat this week. “It’s not a bad way to be coming into the game and the players themselves are really looking forward to it,” said Glynn.

In many respects, it is an opportunity for Mervue to exorcise the demons of last weekend, although they will be facing a Devon outfit that will be buoyed by their 1-1 draw at home to league leaders Longford Town.

“Salthill Devon have been improving,” agreed Glynn, “and it was a very good result for them last weekend, especially getting a result from that game [against Longford] with a late goal. So, they will of course be on a high from that.”

Despite a positive start to 2013, Mervue began to struggle as they headed for the mid-Summer break, which was punctuated by a 2-0 loss to Wexford Youths in mid June and the 3-0 defeat to Athlone upon their return last Friday.

Just as he had been back in the April tie between Mervue and Athlone, referee Ray Matthews was once again the centre of attention. In that Spring meeting, he awarded a controversial penalty to Athlone which cost Mervue all three points and he was again to the fore last weekend when sending off Mervue defender Martin Conneely in the seventh minute.

Glynn admitted the appointment of Matthews before the game had a “negative impact” on his players while he was also critical of the referee in the sending off of Conneely, describing the red card as “a dubious decision”.

In any event, Mervue must regroup for this local derby and that will not be an easy task given a number of players are unavailable. Tom King and Brian O’Mahony are both away with the Irish Colleges outfit in Russia while Conneely and Stephen Walsh are both serving suspensions. Alex Lee is doubtful with a virus.

While Mervue have been struggling of late, Salthill Devon, although bottom of the table, have been enjoying contrasting fortunes, claiming a 2-1 victory away to Finn Harps before the break and then securing a superb draw against Longford with a Derek O’Brien penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time.

For this one, Brian Geraghty is out through injury while James Keane (work commitments) and Alex Byrne (holidays) are also unavailable. In any event, coach John Brennan will be anxious to maintain the side’s recent fine form, although he was not entirely satisfied with last weekend’s result.

“It was not a great result because we should have beaten them but, that said, I would have taken one-all in the 90th minute,” admitted Brennan. “The lads played well and those up at the match said you wouldn’t have thought it was the league leaders against the bottom of the table. Then again, sometimes players raise their game for fixtures like that. I was happy with the way the lads played.