League is most important - Mernagh

Waterford United defender Dylan Mernagh has admitted his disappointed with his side’s early cup exit last week, but admits that their league campaign was always most important.

The Blues were beaten 2-0 by Premier Division champions Sligo Rovers last Saturday in the FAI Cup, but they will be happy with a decent performance to add to their previous good showings.

“It’s disappointing. I mean obviously at the start we were going out to give them a good game but we wanted to win the game as well and try get into the next round.

“They were very difficult opposition, they are the champions for a reason and at times they showed what they were made of out there. All the boys in our dressing room really gave it our all and I’d like to think we put it up to them."

And Mernagh was quick to dispel any sense of distraction after the defeat though, and pointed toward the more important league game this weekend.

“The league is definitely the most important thing for us. Playing Sligo was a luxury, the big important one is Salthill Devon, three points is a must and there’s no other option at this stage.

“The recent performances we’ve put in have lifted spirits too, and having Breener (David Breen) and Frosty (John Frosty) around the camp like this has been great.”

Mernagh received a big plus recently when he was chosen to represent the Irish colleges team in the World University Games to be held in Kazan, Russia, from July 5th to 17th.

“I’m over the moon with that. Especially having not been involved in international groups underage; this will my first real experience of it.

“We’ve played the home nations already and then off to Russia at the end of June which I’m really looking forward too, training hard now and please god it’ll be a successful trip.”