Derby delight for Devon

Salthill Devon 2Mervue United 0

Keith Kelly

IT has been a long wait, but no one associated with Salthill Devon will argue that it hasn’t been worth it. Eighteen games had come and gone without a win before Saturday night, but Devon finally broke their duck as a League of Ireland team, with goals from Gerry Burke and Ciprian Straut sparking wild celebrations in Drom.

The fact that the win came against arch rivals Mervue United made it all the sweeter – you-know-who don’t do first wins in the League of Ireland, but if they did, not even they would have dreamed up a scenario like Saturday night.

It was a win for hard graft and determination, for Devon were the hungrier side in a game which, despite being played in woeful conditions, was entertaining at times. Groundsman Vinny Byrne and his team once again had the pitch in immaculate condition, which provided the perfect platform for passing football, and it was the lighter home side who benefitted most, as a disappointing Mervue never got their own game going.

A decent sized crowd from Mervue crossed the river for the game, making up almost half the attendance on the night, although the crowd of around 250 was disappointing, irrespective of the atrocious weather conditions.

The players were certainly up for the fight, in more ways than one – Dublin referee Paul Tuite booked ten players, and sent off Devon sub Victor Collins five minutes from time – but when a game of football did sporadically break out, it was Devon who played the more attractive stuff and fully deserved their win.

The first caution came after just 70 seconds, somewhat setting the tone of the game, when Darren Young clattered into Daryl Horgan, and by the end of the game, six Devon and four Mervue players had been booked, while there were also reports of a clash between a player from each side in the clubhouse after the game.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.