Kildare County 0 - 3 Mervue United

Mervue Utd moved up to seventh in the First Division table after this resounding 3-0 win over a Kildare County side who have now conceded 19 goals in their last four league games. The league’s newcomers repeated their 3-0 success of last season’s relegation/promotion play-off with another comfortable win at Station Road in Newbridge.

Three headed goals, the first from centre half Damien O’Rourke after 26 minutes was followed by an own goal from Kildare’s Daithi Garry on 42 minutes and a third arrived 15 minutes from the end as David O’Dowd ensured the points headed west as Mervue recorded their second away win of the season.

Once again, shambolic defending was at the root of Kildare’s problems, as they still await their first win of the season and remain rooted to the bottom of the First Division with just one point from the opening six games.

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn made three changes to the side that went down to Shelbourne last week. Ryan Griffin returned between the posts due to an injury to Eoin Martin, while debutant Mixie Harty replaced the flu struck David O’Brien at right back and veteran Ger McGrath returned in place of Gary Traynor who dropped to the bench. Ollie Keogh also made his return from injury with a place on the bench.

Kildare manager Thomas Donnelly made two changes from the team who lost out to UCD last weekend with Stephen Burke and David O’Riordan coming in for Thomas McLoughlin and the injured Paddy Mahon.

Mervue settled well and Nicky Curran dragged a shot wide of the upright from just inside the Kildare box early on while the same player headed narrowly wide from Rory Gaffney’s corner in the 13th minute. At the other end Kildare’s first attack of the game saw Cathal Brady break through the visitor’s rearguard only for Ryan Griffin to save well on 14 minutes.

The opening score arrived on 26 minutes when Rory Gaffney released David Goldbey down the right and his cross was met by Damien O’Rourke whose firm header beat Colin Cassidy with the help of the post for his first goal for his new club.

Mixie Harty then saw his 30 yard effort just fly over the crossbar while a David Goldbey free-kick was well saved by Cassidy. Kildare’s David O’Riordan brought a good save from Griffin with a 25 yard shot after 34 minutes as the home side tried to get back into the game.

Mervue doubled their lead three minutes before the break with Goldbey winning a corner and from the resulting set piece, Daithi Garry headed into his own net after Cassidy had failed to collect Mixie Harty’s delivery. The visitors retired at the break with a comfortable 2-0 lead which they never look like losing.

Kildare did improved after the break with O’Riordan going close with a lobbed effort before Griffin saved brilliantly from substitute Baba Issaka’s header. Kildare did begin to enjoy a lot more possession without ever looking like they were going to turn things around while the visitors relied on counter attacking football.

Mervue effectively wrapped up proceedings in the 75 minute as David O’Dowd beat Cassidy to Rory Gaffney’s cross to nod home the third headed goal of the night and ensure there would be no way back for the home side.

Kildare, to their credit, kept going in search of a consolation goal with Issaka hitting Griffin’s crossbar late on. County have now failed to find the target in their last four games and have stretched their goalless streak to over 400 minutes of football.

Kildare County: Colin Cassidy; Paul Rigney, Daithi Garry (Colin Murray 54), Alan Thorpe, Stephen Burke, Eoin Kavanagh (Stephen Dunne 81), Colin Osbourne, Leslie Kelly (Baba Issaka 58), Noel Byrne, Cathal Brady, David O’Riordan.
Subs not used: Kevin McDonnell (gk), Rory Browne.

Mervue United: Ryan Griffin; Mike Harty (Gary Traynor 71), Mark Ludden, Damien O’Rourke, Eric Browne; Ger McGrath, Rory Gaffney (Alex Lee 86), Nicky Curran, Dave Goldbey (Ollie Keogh 78), David O’Dowd, Mike Tierney.
Subs not used: Pat Hoban, Rynal Browne.

Referee: Sean Grant.

Attendance: 200 (estimate).