Athlone Town -v- Mervue United
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With series one round of games completed Mervue Utd travel to Lissywollen Park on Saturday night to take on Athlone Town in a repeat of the opening game of the season. That was an historic night for the Galway City side as it was their first game in League of Ireland football but Athlone spoiled their party securing a 1-0 win on the night in Terryland Park.
Both teams sit along side each other in the table on 11 points after the opening round of First Division games has been completed.
Both sides also come into Saturday nights game needing to get back to winning ways as Athlone have lost their last four league games (last 5 if you include EA Sports loss to UCD) while Mervue have lost three of their last four league games. Ironically both sides last win came against Longford Town in mid April. Both sides though have had some tough games in the past month playing top four sides. Athlone have played and lost to UCD (1-0 twice), Shelbourne and Sporting Fingal, who they could easily have beaten had they taken their chances before Fingal scored twice. Mervue have played UCD (lost 2-1), Waterford Utd (lost 2-0), Sporting Fingal (drew 1-1) and last weekend lost out 1-0 to in form Wexford Youths.
Johnny Glynn will bring an under strength team to Athlone tomorrow night as he will be missing six players due to injury and a wedding! He will once again be without the services of Nigel Keady (knee) and Ger McGrath (groin and back) through injury. Also definitely missing will be Mixie Harty as he has a very important engagement on Saturday afternoon as he is due to get married to Nicky Curran’s sister so he will also be missing while David O’Dowd and Darvin Dowling will also be unavailable due to the event. On the plus side key players Damien O’Rourke and Noel McDonnell will return to the side after recent injuries while Eric Browne will once again captain the side to complete his twelfth straight league game having played the full ninety minutes in all games to date.
Athlone manager Brendan Place will have midfielder Kevin Williamson back from suspension following his one match ban while centre back Thomas McGauley will miss out as he serves a one match for reaching four yellow cards. New signing Kevin Tyrell should continue in midfield after his debut last Friday night. Ian Coffey, who re-signed for the club last week, will be pushing for a place in the starting line-up after he made a substitutes appearance last weekend against Fingal.
Both sides will be looking to get back on the winning trail and move up the table. Athlone will also be hoping to improve on their home form this season having already lost four of their six home games in the first series of games while Mervue will be hoping to add to their two away win already secured this season. A tight contest looks on the cards with not much between the sides and a share of the points could be the outcome.
Note that this game kicks-off at 7.45 p.m. and not 8 p.m. as previously advertised.
Both sides also come into Saturday nights game needing to get back to winning ways as Athlone have lost their last four league games (last 5 if you include EA Sports loss to UCD) while Mervue have lost three of their last four league games. Ironically both sides last win came against Longford Town in mid April. Both sides though have had some tough games in the past month playing top four sides. Athlone have played and lost to UCD (1-0 twice), Shelbourne and Sporting Fingal, who they could easily have beaten had they taken their chances before Fingal scored twice. Mervue have played UCD (lost 2-1), Waterford Utd (lost 2-0), Sporting Fingal (drew 1-1) and last weekend lost out 1-0 to in form Wexford Youths.
Johnny Glynn will bring an under strength team to Athlone tomorrow night as he will be missing six players due to injury and a wedding! He will once again be without the services of Nigel Keady (knee) and Ger McGrath (groin and back) through injury. Also definitely missing will be Mixie Harty as he has a very important engagement on Saturday afternoon as he is due to get married to Nicky Curran’s sister so he will also be missing while David O’Dowd and Darvin Dowling will also be unavailable due to the event. On the plus side key players Damien O’Rourke and Noel McDonnell will return to the side after recent injuries while Eric Browne will once again captain the side to complete his twelfth straight league game having played the full ninety minutes in all games to date.
Athlone manager Brendan Place will have midfielder Kevin Williamson back from suspension following his one match ban while centre back Thomas McGauley will miss out as he serves a one match for reaching four yellow cards. New signing Kevin Tyrell should continue in midfield after his debut last Friday night. Ian Coffey, who re-signed for the club last week, will be pushing for a place in the starting line-up after he made a substitutes appearance last weekend against Fingal.
Both sides will be looking to get back on the winning trail and move up the table. Athlone will also be hoping to improve on their home form this season having already lost four of their six home games in the first series of games while Mervue will be hoping to add to their two away win already secured this season. A tight contest looks on the cards with not much between the sides and a share of the points could be the outcome.
Note that this game kicks-off at 7.45 p.m. and not 8 p.m. as previously advertised.
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