Mervue fail to make the most of their possession
Date Published: 28-Mar-2011
Mervue United 1
First Division title favourites Shelbourne took all three points from their first visit to Fahy’s Field on Friday night, but they were made work very hard for the win as Mervue United arguably deserved a draw for their efforts.
Experienced campaigners David Cassidy and Stephen Paisley scored either side of Rory Gaffney’s strike for the home side, but it was visiting ‘keeper Dean Delany who the Dublin side have to thank for the win as he produced a top-drawer performance to ensure all three points went the way of the Tolka Park side.
Mervue were the first to settle and should have made their dominance count but Delany twice denied them, firstly gathering Jason Molloy’s stinging shot and then denying Gaffney after the Mervue man outpaced Andy Boyle to set up a one-on-one with the ‘keeper.
Johnny Glynn’s side were soon made to pay for those missed chances when the visitors opened the scoring with their first real attack, Conan Byrne picking out the run of Cassidy in the 19th minute, and the midfielder fired past Ger Hanley from just inside the box for the opener.
It was a blow for the dominant home side, but rather than let the heads drop, they doubled their efforts but while they continued to dominate possession, they struggled to carve out any clear-cut chances and instead it was Hanley who was the busier of the two ‘keepers.
Philip Hughes twice came close for the Dubliners, but Hanley comfortably gathered his free-kick from just outside the box, and when the Mervue ‘keeper was beaten late-on in the half, Hughes’ strike fizzed the far side of the post.
Mervue started the second half like they did the first, but this time their efforts were rewarded when Gaffney capped what was a great display with a deserved equaliser, after Tom King and Molloy had already gone close.
Dave Goldbey won possession out wide in the 53rd minute and sent a teasing cross into the box, and Gaffney rose highest to head the ball home off the post to level matters.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.