Devon, Mervue qualify for U-20 League quarter-finals

Mike Rafferty

It was a good weekend for Mervue United and Salthill Devon in the Airtricity U20 League as they completed their group campaign with impressive wins and as result finish first and second in Section Four and have thus qualified for the quarter finals the weekend after next.Both required victory in order to progress, and with various degrees of comfort advanced with wins over Galway United and Limerick FC. 

Mervue United 3Galway United 0

The home side set up this win with two opening half goals, but the crucial score was Brian Connolly’s close range finish just four minutes after the restart and thereafter Mervue were in cruise control as the comfortable success left them table toppers in a very competitive group with saw just five points separate the top four teams.

The stakes were high at the kickoff as a win for either side would see them advance, and with the visitors including at least seven former Mervue players in their line-up, there was certainly an amount of familiarity about proceedings.

However it was clear from the start that a well groomed home side were at a level above the visitors as years of playing together brought a cohesion and cutting edge that was lacking in Ski McGee’s charges.

Indeed a lot of his side were playing for the second time in 24 hours as up to seven had lined out the previous day in an A championship game against St Patrick’s Athletic. This certainly would not have helped their cause, but they started brightly and just the woodwork denied Pat Shaughnessy after just two minutes. Later an Emmett Shaw free kick was comfortably gathered by Conor Gleeson.

Mervue seldom looked a threat in the early exchanges, but a quick brace in a three minute spell was to quickly turn matters in their favour. The opener on 22 minutes came courtesy of a splendid Enda Curran finish. Gathering possession outside the area, he smartly sidestepped his marker before turning and firing a low effort beyond the reach of Conor Winn for a 1-0 advantage.

Moments later the striker floated in a free kick to the far post and central defender Mike Elwood applied the downward header that made it 2-0.

The long throws of Ger Cheevers was one of the few attacking options in their armoury, but a dominant Mervue back four seldom looked troubled despite the inclusion of Stephen Walsh in the United attack.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.