Mervue United must win to keep league play-off ambitions alive
MERVUE United are entering the ‘last chance saloon’ tomorrow afternoon in their bid to make the First Division promotion play-off spots when they host Waterford United in Fahy’s Field (4.30pm), as the season enters the final stretch of five games.
Johnny Glynn’s side are currently just four points outside third place, but defeat tomorrow afternoon – coupled with a win for Longford Town at home to Finn Harps – will as good as end Mervue’s hopes of being involved in the business end of the season.
If they do fail to make the top three, it shouldn’t take away from what is looking like being the club’s best seasons in their five years in the league. They have a win rate of close to 40%, and have already matched their best finish of 34 points, which was achieved in the 2011 season in 30 games, seven more than they have played in this campaign; while they are also on track for their highest-ever finish.
While Waterford sit in second in the table after putting together a run of five wins and two draws in their last seven games, Mervue seem to have the Indian sign over the south-east club, taking seven points from the three meetings between the sides this season.
Mervue’s win over Salthill Devon last weekend ended a three-game run without a victory, but they will go into tomorrow’s game confident they can close the gap on the top three, especially with Longford in freefall of late, the early pace-setters taking just five points from their last seven games.
“They are on a great run at the moment and we will have to be at our very best to get something from the game but the lads are looking forward to the game. We have a good record against them this season but it will be another tough challenge for us,” Glynn said.
Glynn will be without defender Stephen Walsh (back) for the tie but other than that will have a full squad to choose from with both Gary Curran and Gary Kelly back in full training after recent injuries.
As for Devon, they look almost certain to finish bottom of the table for a fourth consecutive season, with a nine point gap to make up on Cobh Ramblers in the next five games if they are to avoid extending their own unwanted record for consecutive last-place finishes, having set a new low last season with three-on-the-trot.
For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.