Mervue United and Corrib Rangers set the early pace
Date Published: 03-Sep-2012
A week in and already a clear pattern is emerging as defending Western Hygiene Supplies Premier Division champions Mervue United and Corrib Rangers have pulled five points clear at the top of the table.
On Sunday morning, they both registered their third successes of the campaign, but they did so in contrasting styles, as they maintained their unbeaten records.
It took some stern interval words from manager Gary O’Connor to change the mindset of Mervue as they trailed West United by 2-0 at the break, but all was well by the finish, as Stephen Cunningham notched a late winner.
Meanwhile over in Westside, David Goldbey was left on the bench for the opening hour as Corrib Rangers struggled in the last third of the park against Salthill Devon, but within minutes of his introduction, the striker had notched a quick brace to bring his seasonal tally to six in three games.
Newly promoted OLBC picked up their first win of the campaign, when Daniel McDonagh notched a late winner as the home side beat an NUI Galway team who were having their first outing of the season.
West United 2Mervue United 3
As the word quickly spread of West’s two goal interval advantage, it looked like Mervue were going to get an early season reminder that they were not going to get matters all their own way.
As opening half efforts by Paul Murphy and Patsy Ward put West in the driving seat, matters certainly looked good for the home side.However, the second half quickly saw a swift turnabout of events as a quick brace levelled matters.
Eoin Concannon pulled one back just after the restart; and minutes later following a corner from the same player, Paul Sinnott got his second goal of the campaign to tap home the equaliser from close range to tie up matters at 2-2.
Another set piece provided the assist for the winner as a Tommy Walsh corner broke to Stephen Cunningham in the box and from six yards he completed the perfect comeback to make it 3-2.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.