10-man Mervue take spoils in thriller

Date Published: {J}

Mervue United 3Corrib Rangers 2 (After extra time)

Alan Dooley at Terryland Park

A famous Scottish manager once famously remarked, on seeing his side complete a remarkable cup final victory, “Football . . . bloody hell!” Those sentiments were as apt as any after a mesmerising Michael Byrne Cup final at Terryland Park on Tuesday produced a sensational finale.

A Norwegian substitute defined that night in Barcelona, while in less glamorous surrounds another replacement conjured up a winning goal as Emlyn Coyne struck for Mervue United’s winner 11 minutes after entering the fray, by which stage his side were already down to ten men and both sides had spurned a litany of chances.

All that was to change, though, as first Tommy Walsh lashed in a cracker for Mervue before Lawrence Forde grabbed his second of the night with a composed finish to level matters within minutes. Seemingly the game was destined for a penalty shoot-out, but that scenario was avoided when Coyne drilled Liam McKenna’s cross high to the net with two minutes to go to spark delirious Mervue celebrations.

The large gathering who stayed on afterwards in miserable late night conditions to show their appreciation towards both sets of players in this contest was testament to the excitement felt by all who were lucky enough to have witnessed the dramatic action unfold.

For Corrib Rangers, the loss completed a harrowing three days for the Westside club that ends with the trophy cabinet somehow still bare, while Mervue may look back on this season with thoughts of what could have been given their late upturn in form. This cup win will tide them over nicely though.

Cup finals are often drab affairs, and this fixture was as much in need of some life as the ball that required pumping in the 20th minute. From there on, though, it was all action as Mervue began to force pressure from a succession of well-flighted Aaron Finnerty corners, with a McKenna effort cleared off the line by Rangers’ Johnny O’Connor.

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.