Devon and Mervue set for mouth-watering cup clash

When the draw for the fifth round of the FAI Junior Cup was made, there were eight Connacht sides left in the round of 32 so there was always the possibility that an all local tie could emerge.

As it turns out, Salthill Devon and Mervue United were the first two names out of the hat and they meet in Drom on Sunday at 2pm with a place in the last 16 at stake.

Both teams are high achievers in the local game and both will have ambitions of advancing from this mouth-watering tie. Devon are without a doubt the form team as they top the Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division and have quickly moved on from the glory of defeating Athenry 3-0 in league action last week.

They have enjoyed a comfortable run to this stage of the competition as they registered wins over NUI Galway (3-0), Corrib Rangers (3-0), Maree/Oranmore (4-1) and Liffey Wanderers (4-0), and the luck of the draw certainly appears to be on their side as this is the fifth round in succession where they were drawn at home and on the all-weather surface in Drom that is a huge advantage.

In contrast, Mervue United will be taking to the road for the fourth game in their five rounds, but will take confidence from the sides’ recent 1-1 draw in the league. On that occasion an Adam Healy goal gave the visitors a 1-0 advantage, with Devon scoring a late equaliser from Jackson de Silva.

Devon, under the management of Victor Collins, Keith O’Shaughnessy, and Padraic Fadden, have performed at a consistently high level and averaging over three goals a game. They do not lack firepower as the likes of Timmy Molloy, Aaron Conway, Mikie Fox, Vinny Faherty and Darren Creaven are setting high standards in the art of finishing. Their side is packed with seasoned good quality players at this level, with Calym Crowe the only young player in a mature squad.

In contrast, Mervue under Noel McDonnell are in somewhat of a transition as a few experienced players have moved on, with regular goalscorer Enda Curran the most notable to depart as he has joined Treaty United in the League of Ireland.

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

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