Mervue United -v- Cobh Ramblers

MERVUE UNITED

Out of sorts Mervue United welcomes Cobh Ramblers to Fahy’s Field this afternoon in the Airtricity League First Division clash. KO 4.30pm.

The home side is on a bad run of late. No wins in their last four games in all competitions has seen the steam run out of Johnny Glynn’s side.

Two away defeats to Premier Division sides Sligo Rovers and Bray Wanderers in cup competitions was no surprise but defeats by the league’s leading teams, Longford Town and Finn Harps, brought the Galway side back to reality with a bang.

At the beginning of the season Mervue took the league by storm and raced up the table to many a raised eyebrow, but, their most recent defeats have seen them slip back to fourth.

Injuries to an already stretched squad hasn’t help matters but today Glynn can welcome back first-team regulars Ryan Manning, Noel Varley amd Marc Ludden.

Alex Lee and Gary Curran are out while club captain Tom King and Jason Molloy are both viewed as doubtful.

Cobh and Mervue met for the first time back in April at St. Coleman’s Park in the craziest game you could imagine. Cobh’s 5-3 win was Mervue’s first defeat of the season but that score-line is only the tip of the iceberg.

There was four penalties and three sending offs. Conor Meade scored four goals, three of which were from the penalty spot against three different Mervue goalkeepers. Try to keep up now as the most bizarre moment of the night was a goal which was aided and abetted by the wind.

Looking ahead to today’s encounter with the Cork side, Glynn has challenged his players to get back to winning ways.

We need to get back to getting results and will need to put in a good performance to get anything from the game. The lads have worked hard in training all week and it’s good to be playing at home.”

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh’s re-introduction to the league has been welcomed by many and anyone who has watched the Cork side this season knows a high-scoring game is as probable as rainfall.

Ramblers have already netted 21 goals this season thanks mostly to Conor Meade, but they still languish second from bottom. Only league leader’s Longford Town has scored more goals than Dave Hill’s side.

While goals have been flying in for today’s visitors, goals conceded are the highest in the league. In the past three games alone Cobh’s defence has shipped ten goals.

Last week in the FAI Cup they overcame St Patrick's CYFC in another high-scoring game but you have to back to April’s freakish game with Mervue to find their last win in the league.

A home win is the most likely outcome at Fahy’s Field but expect goals galore on a sunny and hot Galway afternoon. Now there’s something you can’t say every day.

Referee: John McLoughlin.

BETTING

Mervue United 7/10; Draw 12/5; Cobh Ramblers 7/2

PREDICTION

Mervue United 3-1 Cobh Ramblers

Mervue United

Injured: Alex Lee (foot) and Gary Curran (knee).
Doubtful: Tom King (hamstring), Jason Molloy (thigh strain).
Suspended: Paul Sinnott.

Cobh Ramblers

Injured: Unavailable.
Doubtful: Unavailable.
Suspended: None.