Curran strike seals deal for Mervue

MERVUE United recorded their first home win of the season – and only their second victory of the campaign – when a late Nicky Curran strike sealed a 1-0 win and all three points in Terryland Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Salthill Devon’s misery in the Airtricity First Division continued at the weekend as they suffered their tenth defeat of the season when Finn Harps’ Mark Forkar scored the only goal of the match after 22 minutes at Drom.

Salthill remain rooted to the bottom of the table awaiting their first win of the campaign and were cut further adrift of Mervue who are now four points clear of their city rivals.

Mervue manager Tom French was forced to make five changes from last week’s defeat at Limerick, while Athlone made three changes from their draw with Salthill Devon.

Mervue signaled their intent as early as the third minute with a pinpoint cross from Evan Connolly picked out Kevin Crehan, but the midfielder headed his effort over Chris Bennion’s crossbar from inside the box.

Athlone’s Stephen Caffrey headed wide from a Robbie Benson corner after 17 minutes and two minutes later the home side almost went in front. A Rory Gaffney cross from the right was flicked on goalwards by Mike Tierney but a covering Mark Nolan rescued his side with a clearance off the line, as Brian McCarthy then headed the loose ball over his own crossbar.

After a scoreless opening half Mervue came out with renewed vigor looking to break the deadlock when Gaffney once again was causing problems for the visitors as he found room on the right to hit a cross shot across the face of Bennion’s goal but neither Connolly or Mike Tierney could get that vital touch as the ball flew wide of the far post.  

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.