Mervue United -v- Longford Town
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Mervue United entertain Longford Town on Saturday night at Terryland Park looking for their first home win of the season while the visitors are looking for their first away win. Mervue are looking to put two wins back to back for the first time this season having defeated Kildare County 3-0 last Friday night. Longford Town will be hoping to get back to winning ways after two defeats to midland neighbours Athlone Town in the league and EA Sports cup over the bank holiday weekend.
Longford are on a four game losing streak with their last win also coming against Kildare County, a 4-0 home win in their second league game in March but have lost all three games on the road to date. Mervue on the other hand have claimed both of their league wins to date away from Terryland Park were they have yet to win despite good performances against Finn Harps (drew 1-1) and Shelbourne (lost 1-0) conceding very late goals in both games.
Mervue boss Johnny Glynn will select from virtually the same panel that defeated Kildare last weekend with long term injuries to Nigel Keady (knee) and Noel McDonnell (groin) still ruling them out. David O’Brien should return to the team after missing last week’s win because of flu while Eoin Martin was back in training this week and could challenge Ryan Griffin for the keeper’s jersey. Ollie Keogh could also start his first game of the season after returning to first team action as a second half substitute last weekend after a month out with a broken toe. Top scorer David Golbey should also be fit despite going off injured in the club’s last two games.
Longford player/manager Alan Gough has clearly had his work cut out for him with such a limited squad (restricted by a very tight budget), which is mainly made up of young players lacking in experience at this level. He has also had to don his gloves so far this season but has been trying to sign American keeper Chris Konopka from Bohs. Konopka was part of Bohemians' double-winning squad last season as back-up to Brian Murphy and played in the side that lost the A Championship final to UCD.
“We're well down the road with Chris,” Gough revealed. “He's going to be living in Longford and training with us three times a week. Bohemians have been good enough to allow him train with them for the last week when he wasn't working with our goalkeeping coach and we hope to have the paperwork sorted by the weekend.” Mervue will also be very familiar with the threat of former Galway Utd front man Derek Glynn now plying his trade with the midlanders.
A good result for the home team would consolidate their mid-table position while a defeat for the visitors would see their miserable away form continue but a win would see them move along side Mervue on seven points and halt a four game losing streak.
Kick-off at Terryland Park is 7.45 p.m. for a key game for two sides with differing form going into this game and with precious points at stake it has all the hallmarks of a draw.
Longford are on a four game losing streak with their last win also coming against Kildare County, a 4-0 home win in their second league game in March but have lost all three games on the road to date. Mervue on the other hand have claimed both of their league wins to date away from Terryland Park were they have yet to win despite good performances against Finn Harps (drew 1-1) and Shelbourne (lost 1-0) conceding very late goals in both games.
Mervue boss Johnny Glynn will select from virtually the same panel that defeated Kildare last weekend with long term injuries to Nigel Keady (knee) and Noel McDonnell (groin) still ruling them out. David O’Brien should return to the team after missing last week’s win because of flu while Eoin Martin was back in training this week and could challenge Ryan Griffin for the keeper’s jersey. Ollie Keogh could also start his first game of the season after returning to first team action as a second half substitute last weekend after a month out with a broken toe. Top scorer David Golbey should also be fit despite going off injured in the club’s last two games.
Longford player/manager Alan Gough has clearly had his work cut out for him with such a limited squad (restricted by a very tight budget), which is mainly made up of young players lacking in experience at this level. He has also had to don his gloves so far this season but has been trying to sign American keeper Chris Konopka from Bohs. Konopka was part of Bohemians' double-winning squad last season as back-up to Brian Murphy and played in the side that lost the A Championship final to UCD.
“We're well down the road with Chris,” Gough revealed. “He's going to be living in Longford and training with us three times a week. Bohemians have been good enough to allow him train with them for the last week when he wasn't working with our goalkeeping coach and we hope to have the paperwork sorted by the weekend.” Mervue will also be very familiar with the threat of former Galway Utd front man Derek Glynn now plying his trade with the midlanders.
A good result for the home team would consolidate their mid-table position while a defeat for the visitors would see their miserable away form continue but a win would see them move along side Mervue on seven points and halt a four game losing streak.
Kick-off at Terryland Park is 7.45 p.m. for a key game for two sides with differing form going into this game and with precious points at stake it has all the hallmarks of a draw.
About Terry Flaherty
Terry has been writing for Extratime since 2009 and is based out west in Galway covering Mervue United, Salthill Devon, and now this season the newly formed, Galway FC. Terry has written articles for many … View Full Profile