Mervue United 2 - 0 Cobh Ramblers

Mervue United made it five wins on the trot as goals in either half from Gary Shanahan and Stephen Walsh saw them defeat Cobh Ramblers 2-0 at Fahy’s Field on Friday night.

The win for the home side ensures an exciting end to the final round of games next weekend in the First Division as the battle for the promotion play-off positions make for an interesting Saturday night. This win has also moved Johnny Glynn’s side into third place, for 24 hours at least, as Longford host Wexford Youths on Saturday night.

The home side started brightly with Jason Molloy whipping in a dangerous ball into the six yard box but Cobh keeper Shane Hallahan plucked the ball from the head of Ryan Manning to avert the danger after five minutes.

Cobh’s Brendan Frahill struck an effort wide following a Marc Ludden headed clearance, while Alan O’Flynn forced a good save from Conor O’Malley as the home keeper had to tip the striker’s on target shot over his crossbar after quarter of an hour.

Mervue began a period of raids down the left wing around the half hour mark when firstly good play between Marc Ludden and Jason Molloy saw the winger skips inside and let fly but Hallahan blocked the effort before gathering the loose ball under pressure from Manning.

Molloy was the orchestrator again on 31 minutes as he played a lovely ball into the path of Walsh who turned an inviting ball across the face of the Cobh goal but both Manning and Shanahan couldn’t add the vital touch to steer the ball home.

The deadlock was broken however five minutes before the break following a cracking move from the home side. Manning picked up the ball in his own half advanced forward with pace before passing to Barry O'Mahony who played a perfect first time ball to release Gary Shanahan through on the right and he made no mistake smashing the ball past Hallahan for 1-0.

Walsh almost made it 2-0 just before the break as he struck an effort just past Hallahan's far post after another good piece of passing play from the home side and Manning also went close from another O’Mahony pass as the half ended.

Mervue continued to press for a second on the resumption and Molloy curled an effort just over from Manning's corner to the edge of the box, while Shanahan went close on two occasions to doubling his tally and his sides and Walsh had another effort just off target.

That lead was finally doubled with fourteen minutes remaining. Manning’s free kick on the right of the box was adjudged to have hit Martin Deady’s arm in the Cobh two man wall and referee Ray Matthews pointed to the spot after consulting with his assistant.

Penalties have been a major disaster for Mervue this season with at least five players having missed from 18 yards throughout the season, some of them more than once. So when Walsh took command of the ball the home support drew breath but he didn’t disappoint, although his low drive smash off the inside of the right-hand post before ending up in the opposite corner of the net.

Molloy had a shot blocked on the line by a Cobh defender and Noel Varley missed badly from the loose ball as a third goal looked likely with seven minutes remaining and the home side still pushing forward.

Manning flashed another effort just over after cutting in from the right wing and letting fly, while the visitors almost grabbed a late consolation as Stephen Walsh cleared a Johnathan Spillane effort off the line in injury time and Conor O'Malley had to make another smart save before the final whistle eventually sounded.

Mervue Utd: Conor O’Malley; Joe Woods, Martin Conneely (Michael Duffy 82), Paul Sinnott,  Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan, Barry O’Mahoney (Gary Curran 85), Noel Varley, Jason Molloy; Stephen Walsh, Ryan Manning.
Subs not used: Tom King, Brendan Lavelle, Ross Kenny, Gary Kelly, Ger Hanley (GK)

Bookings: Ludden (45).

Cobh Ramblers: Shane Hallahan; Brendan Frahill, Brian Fitzgerald (Adam Thompson 63), John Meade (C), Anthony O’Donnell; Bobbi Donoghue, Andrew Bhandarkar, James Carson, Martin Deady; Alan O’Flynn (Ronan Stanton 74), Daniel Santry (Johnathan Spillane 63).
Subs not Used: Craig Burns, Kynan Rocks, Robert Birdsall (GK)

Bookings: Fitzgerald (36), Frahill (65), O’Donnell (74), Deady (76).

Referee: Ray Matthews.

Attendance: 249

Extratime Man of the Match: Jason Molloy (Mervue Utd) - A constant threat on the left wing all night.