Mervue Utd are fast out of blocks in bid to retain league title
By Mike Rafferty
AT the end of last season just one point separated Mervue United and runners up Athenry in the Premier League, but just a week into the new campaign it appears that the old order is changing. Three games in and the defending champions have a full quota of points, but for Athenry they already lie six points behind as they followed up an opening day loss against Salthill Devon, with a defeat against Mervue on Saturday.
Just like they did last season, Mervue appear to find goals easy to come by and with the dynamic duo of Barry Moran and Enda Curran restored to the front line for the weekend contest, they just add so much to a side that might be ordinary without them.
Andrew Connolly has also added goals to his repertiore to supplement their contribution, but in contrast Athenry are struggling in the last third of the park, as they have failed to hit the target in games against the top two. Meanwhile, they did pick up their first points of the campaign with a 3-2 mid-week win over Loughrea.
It looks a long way back for Davie Crimmon's side, but a squad with much the same personel as last season should be competitive enough to maintain a challenge, but they need their strikers to start hitting the target in order to get them back into contention.
Elsewhere, Salthill Devon remain unbeaten after three games as they lie second in the table, while West United also have full points from their opening two games.
Premier League
Mervue United 3
Athenry 0
For almost an hour this Premier Division tie at Fahy's Field was competitive, but after Enda Curran notched his second of the day to make it three, the game was over as a contest as Athenry heads dropped while the hosts made it 13 goals for their opening three games.
That is the type of finishing power so lacking in Athenry and in an opening half in which they were competitive, seldom did they look like they had the ability to break the deadlock. They enjoyed more than their fair share of possession, but only a Colm O'Donovan effort extended Peter Healy.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.