Salthill Devon -v- Mervue United

SALTHILL DEVON 

The fourth and final Galway city derby of this season’s Airtricity League of Ireland First Division takes place on Friday night as Salthill Devon welcome Mervue United to Drom, kick off 7.45pm.

Around the mid-season mark there was a flicker of hope that Salthill had turned a corner and that maybe getting off the foot of the table was a realistic goal for the perennial basement boys.

While that dream is still alive a lack of goals in recent games has severely hampered Salthill’s chances of doing so. Losing players, like top scorer Enda Curran for example, to other clubs in July and injuries followed by suspensions hasn’t helped either.

With that in mind John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan will be glad to welcome back Mixie Harty and Ronan Conlon in time for Friday’s game but Willie Enubele is suspended. Brian Gaffney is back from the U.S but may have to settle for a place on the bench.

Going into Friday’s game, the host’s recent record at home has been stellar with only one defeat in five and Jumbo knows nothing motivates his players more than facing Mervue.

"It's always easy to get the lads up for a visit from Mervue. The last few games have been tough as we had to cope with the loss of players in the transfer window and a couple of suspensions as well."

MERVUE UNITED

Two week’s have passed since Mervue’s last outing, a 2-4 home defeat to Athlone. In their push for promotion the result was certainly not in the script. Twelve points now separate Johnny Glynn’s fourth-placed team and table-topping Athlone Town, but all is not lost.

The two teams above Mervue are level on points and face each other on Friday night. Waterford United will be hoping to move up to second and replace their visitors Longford Town. The Midlands club is the top-scoring team in the league and only this fact separates those sides.

Speaking to the club’s website Mervue manager Johnny Glynn was looking forward to another Galway derby, even if the two week break was not ideal.

“Like all city derby games it is sure to be another close affair with our neighbours Salthill Devon. It is a tough game to return from a break but all games in this division have been this season, but with the added incentive of it being a derby game and neither side wanting to lose, it makes it much tougher.”

Significantly and more poignantly this fixture could be the last between the sides in the League of Ireland due to the FAI’s proposal that Galway city can only maintain one club from next season onwards.

Referee: Derek Tomney.

MATCH STATS

Salthill Devon have only lost once at home in last five games.

Mervue hold the edge in meetings this season with two home wins and a draw.

Mervue are just three points off their best ever points finish in the league.

BETTING

Salthill Devon 4/1; Draw 5/2 Mervue United 8/13

PREDICTION

Salthill Devon 0-2 Mervue United 

Salthill Devon

Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Willie Enubele.

Mervue United

Injured: None.
Doubtful: Gary Curran, Gary Kelly to undergo late fitness tests.
Suspended: None.