Walsh and King pounce to end Mervue's five game losing run

Mervue United 2Athlone Town 0

Mervue Utd halted a barren run of five games without a point with a hard earned 2-0 win over fourth placed Athlone Town courtesy of a second-half double at Fahy’s Field on Friday night.

After a slow opening half were excitement and goal chances were at a premium both sides did improve in the second period with the home team the more clinical as they took their chances as Stephen Walsh scored his first goal for the club and Tom King wrapped matters up in injury time when adding the second.

The first half provided little in the way of entertainment as both sides started the game with several changes from their previous games. The home side created a half chance on 11 minutes when Jason Molloy skipped past Damien Rushe and then beat the full-back a second time with a neat drag back before picking out the inrushing King, whose header lacked direction as it flew across Pat Jennings’ goal and wide.

Athlone’s Brian McCarthy had a header cleared of the post by the alert James Casserly on 25 minutes following an Eric Molloy corner from the right. Niall Scullion – who was lively on the right wing in the opening period for the visitors – hit a shot straight at Conor Gleeson after getting the better of Walsh after 36 minutes.

The first real spark of life in the game arrived on 39 minutes when Mervue’s Molloy picked up a Pat Hoban pass and proceeded to strike a brilliant swerving effort into the top corner, but Jennings produced a marvellous save to deny the winger with King flashing the loose ball across the empty goal.

The second period did produce a lot more goalmouth action as both sides went in search of the win. Four minutes after the re-start and Alan Murphy turned well on the edge of the box but his well struck low effort saw Jennings produce another good stop down low.

Mervue should have hit the front just after the hour mark when a clever flick from Alan Murphy released Walsh through on goals but he delayed and completely miscued his effort badly wide with just Jennings to beat.

Athlone almost made Glynn’s side pay for that miss as Mark Walsh headed Barry O’Mahoney’s dangerous cross against the post from close range and Mark Sherlock blasted the rebound over Gleeson’s crossbar on 68 minutes.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.