Glynn adds Forde and Walsh to Mervue squad

Keith Kelly

Mervue United manager Johnny Glynn has announced his first two new signings for this season’s Airtricity First Division campaign, while the club has also confirmed four preseason friendlies for next month, with the possibility of more being added.

Although discussions are being held today between the club and the Galway United Supporters’ Trust in relation to forming an alliance and a new team for the coming season, the club has had to plan for this not materialising, and is working on preparing for the new season as Mervue United FC.

To that extent, Glynn has snapped up goalkeeper Ronan Forde, who moves across the city to Mervue United from Salthill Devon, while defender Stephen Walsh makes the shorter journey of switching from Terryland Park and Galway United to join the Fahy’s Field-based side.

The addition of those two players brings to 13 the number of players Glynn has at his disposal for the new season, which begins on the weekend beginning Friday March 2, as 11 of the squad which finished seventh in the First Division last year have re-signed with Mervue.

Martin Conneely, Pat Hoban, James Casserley, Jason Molloy, Mark Ludden, Alex Lee, Mike Elwood, Barry McEntee, Peter Dravins, Michael Collins and Shane Keogh have all put pen to paper with Mervue for the coming season, but there are a couple of notable absentees from that list – underage internationals Ger Hanley and John Mountney.

Hanley is understood to be on the verge of signing from Premier Division side Dundalk, and the goalkeeper could be joined at Oriel Park this season by midfielder John Mountney, who has been training with the County Louth club this week.

Sean McCaffrey, who was in charge of Irish underage international sides from 2003 to 2010, has been named as the new manager at Dundalk, replacing Ian Foster, and both Hanley and Mountney have featured on international sides under him.

Both are expected to sign for Dundalk over the coming days, hence the decision to move for Forde to replace Hanley, though there is still uncertainty over that move as the clubs are believed to be still working on an agreement over the proposed move.

In relation to preseason friendlies, Mervue United are expected to begin their preparations for the new season with a game against Drogheda United on Friday February 10, though that game is subject to FAI approval - Drogheda will also play a preseason friendly against Salthill Devon at Drom the following day as part of their trip to Galway. 

Mervue’s second friendly will be away to newly promoted Shelbourne on Friday February 17, with the club then heading to Reading for a preseason training camp, which will include a game against a Reading XI on Monday February 20, which could feature Karl Sheppard, the former Galway United striker, who joined the English Championship side last week.

The final preseason friendly confirmed by Mervue United is against St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday February 24, though it is believed there may be at least one more game added to that list, which the club has yet to confirm.

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