Devon claim controversial win as Mervue are held to a draw

Salthill Devon 1

Darren Collins smashed home the winner fust five minutes after his introduction as Salthill Devon got the defence of their Premier Division title off to a winning start in Headford on Friday evening.

While the win might have been deserved in in that the visitors enjoyed the greater amount of possession and created the better chances, but on an occasion when the home side played well and were without so many regulars, the outcome was rough justice.

There were no issues about the late winner, but the real talking point of the game just came on 87 minutes, when Moyne Villa’s JJ Oifioh broke into the penalty area, where he was unceremoniously upended by Cathal Coyne for what appeared to be a certain penalty.

A mistimed challenge had certainly dumped him in the box, but referee Joe Hession waited for the young substitute to pick himself up off the floor, before he issued him with a yellow card for diving.

To compound matters it was his second yellow of the evening, with the outcome that Moyne Villa were now down to 10 men. The referee had a good view, and his two assistants would also have seen the incident, but this appears to have been a bad call. Even the defender who made the challenge, went away limping. Enough said.

In a well-contested game, both sides had early opportunities as Enda Curran got on the end of a long ball, but lobbed both Villa goalkeeper Kieran McDonagh and the crossbar when through on goal.

Devon winger Alex Murphy was a threat with his pace and ball skills, and he soon brought a save from McDonagh. At the other end, the impressive Darragh Forde broke away, but his delivery across the face of goal could find no takers.

A pass from Evan Cunningham released Kyle Greaney, but Devon goalkeeper Cian Mulryan advanced to deflect out for a corner. The visitors continued to generally control possession, it didn't lead to a glut of scoring chances as defences dominated for the duration.

The resumption saw Colin Kelly have an effort parried by McDonagh; Enda Curran was denied by a smart save by the custodian on 62 minutes. Later the former League of Ireland striker had a header taken off the line by Gusi Kumalo, as the city side failed to take advantage of a dominant spell. Cole Connolly, Colin Kelly, and Mikey Fox also all threatened for no reward.

The home side offered an occasional late challenge when a Greaney shot was batted away by Mulryan; while Adam Nugent had a goal correctly ruled out for offside. As the contest developed it was the experienced Devon who did most of the pressing, but were really making little headway.

As the visitors emptied the bench, all that changed in the dramatic finale as eventually the 10-man home side were breached four minutes into injury time when Marc Ludden crossed from the left and fellow substitute Collins was all alone at the far post as he drilled a low effort into the far corner of the net for the winner.

Moyne Villa: McDonagh, Cunningham, Kumalo (Fahy 79), O’Reilly, Daly, Doyle, Greaney (Oifioh 61), O’Regan, Coyle, Nugent (Meenaghan 83), Forde.

Salthill Devon: Mulryan, Baranyai (Collins 90), Fox, Coyne (Scally 90), Crowe, Ossogba (Ludden 56), Kelly, O’Rourke, Molloy (Connolly 74), Murphy (Diala 56), Curran.

Referee: Joe Hession.

Pictured: The Knocknacarra FC squad that beat Loughrea in their Championship meeting in Cappagh Park last weekend. Back row, from left: Adam Wiytch, Josh Hickey, Luca Monarini, Shane Befula, Darcy Ngodjo, David Cleary, Daniel Ojehonman, and Aaron Hrehorow. Front: Karl Bona, Riain Kelly, Scott Dillon, Aengus Mac Donnchadha, Jack Faherty, Christian Buchs, and Rory Shaughnessy. Photos: Iain McDonald.