Late strike undoes all Mervue's good work

Mervue United 0Limerick City 1

JASON BYRNE

Tuam native Rory Gaffney holds the record appearances and number of goals scored for Mervue United in the League of Ireland, but on Friday night the youngster lined out at Fahy’s Field for the first time since his move to Limerick FC in July.

An emotional night for Gaffney no doubt, but it was only a matter of time before he would be lured elsewhere as several clubs were said to be chasing his signature before his summer move to Jackman Park.

His side, managed by Pat Scully, are chasing a return to top flight football and edged closer to their longing ambition with a precious three points on the east side of Galway on Friday night, thanks to substitute Peter Hynes’ header six minutes from time.

But the hosts, as has been said so many times this season, will feel hard done by and once again their tireless defensive work coupled with the sublime heroics of Ger Hanley in goal all went in vain as once again a late strike condemned them to dropping points.

The first half was largely forgetful, with both sides enjoying good spells of possession but failing to create much in front of goal.As the half hour mark approached, Denis Behan’s low drive from the edge of the box was well held by Mervue stopper Hanley, warming up his hands for the second half onslaught that was to follow.  

After frustrating Pat Scully’s blues for the bulk of the half, United’s best chance fell to former Bristol City midfielder Pat Hoban, who made former Galway United captain Barry Ryan reach full stretch to keep his rasping effort from range from resting in the net.

In the second half, Limerick lost both Shaun Kelly and Shane Treacy to injury early on, but this didn’t hamper them turning up the heat on Mervue as they upped the pace in their search for the all-important goal.

Much to their dismay, on the hour mark four corner kicks in a row whipped in by Gaffney all resulted in nothing. Just beforehand, Sean Brosnan was denied a certain goal after he was put in by Paudie Quinn, but Hanley superbly tipped wide.

Next was Jeffrey Judge to rue a near lead for the visitors – as he fired inches wide after picking up a pinpoint ball from Brosnan.As if it were written in the script, Gaffney almost scored in his first appearance against his old club as the final 10 minutes approached but again Hanley held well at the near post to deny his former team-mate.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.