Mervue United 0 - 2 Waterford United
Credit:
Two goals in the final ten minutes from David Grincell and Graham Cummins gave Waterford Utd a third win in seven days and confined Mervue Utd to a seventh league defeat in a row in Terryland Park tonight.
Mervue manager Johnny Glynn gave a debut to new signing Neill Keane while Mark Ludden also returned to the home side after injury with Mike Tierney dropping to the bench. Waterford manager Stephen Henderson had to field without striker Willie John Kiely and midfielder Joe Mulcahy as both were out with dead legs.
The first quarter of an hour of the game was a tame affair as both sides created very little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. Mervue did however create the better chances in the first half and almost opened the scoring on 17 minutes. Nicky Curran’s delivery from a corner kick found centre half Damien O’Rourke at the back post and his header was blocked on the line by a Waterford defender before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.
Waterford’s Dave Warren volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the box after a period of pressure from the visitors on 24 minutes. Two minutes later the home team were almost in front after a long throw by Kenny Farrell found O’Rourke in the box and his header flew narrowly over the crossbar.
On 32 minutes Warren almost caught Mervue keeper Eoin Martin out with a clever flicked header at the near post after Graham Cummins dummied Kevin Waters’ left wing cross. The half ended though as it had begun scoreless.
On the re-start Waterford’s Kevin Murray headed over the crossbar following a corner kick on 47 minutes while a minute later David Grincell’s diving header at the back post flew just wide following a Paul Walsh cross.
Mervue continued to push forward as they put in another improved performance following the past month’s results, which has seen them fall down the table to second from bottom. On 55 minutes O’Rourke broke forward to release Mark Ludden down the left wing and his cross into the box just evaded Neill Keane before being cleared for a corner. A good break by sub Kevin Crehan released Dave Goldbey down the right channel but his low ball across the box couldn’t find a Mervue player as Waterford’s defence once again cleared the danger.
On 69 minutes Pat Hoban put Ludden away down the left again and he beat Alan Carey before cutting into the box and his shot almost caught Michael Devine out, put the keeper somehow kept his effort out at his near post with a good save. Mervue introduced Mike Tierney for debutant Keane on 70 minutes and he almost made an instant impact three minutes later.
Mark Ludden’s corner kick was flapped at by Devine and dropped to Tierney at the back post but his touch knocked the ball onto the post when it looked easier to score with an open goal in front of him. This was a serious let off for the visitors who responded with John Kearney forcing a good save from Martin on 79 minutes before they opened the scoring a minute later.
A left wing cross into the box by Kevin Waters was not cleared for once by the Mervue defence and the ball dropped kindly to David Grincell and he made no mistake drilling the ball home from inside the box. He almost added a second two minutes later as he shot just wide.
Mervue almost grabbed an equaliser with four minutes to go as another dangerous Ludden cross to the back post was headed wide by the in rushing Rory Gaffney. Waterford made sure of the points in the final minute as Graham Cummins raced onto a ball over the top before coolly lobbing the advancing Martin to made it 2-0.
Another disappointing defeat for Mervue who really need to get a positive result to put their season back on track but at least they can look on their last two results with some confidence as they have played a lot better and look competitive again. Manager Glynn was very disappointed after the game with the result as he commented “we deserved something out of the game after playing very well and I was particularly pleased with our defending apart from the goals and Damien O’Rourke was exceptional again for us”
A strong finish to the game must have pleased Henderson as his side recorded their third win in a week and has propelled them into second position in the First Division. Next up is an EA Sports Cup semi final away to UCD on Tuesday night followed up by an away trip to in form Kildare County next Saturday evening. Mervue’s tough games continued though with an away trip to the Morton Stadium and fourth placed Sporting Fingal next Friday evening.
Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell, Damien O’Rourke, Nigel Keady, Michael Harty (Kevin Crehan 58 mins injured), Gary Traynor, Mark Ludden, Pat Hoban (Rory Gaffney 82 mins), Dave Goldbey, Neil Keane (Mike Tierney 70 mins). Subs not Used; Eric Browne and Alex Lee.
Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, John Kearney, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne; Paul Walsh (Stephen Grant 68 mins), Seamus Long (Kieran Fitzgerald 75 mins), Dave Warren (Paul Carey 90 mins), Kevin Waters, Graham Cummins, David Grincell. Subs not Used: Kevin Burns.
Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork)
Man of the match: Damien O’Rourke (Mervue) – The stand-in captain led by example and was unfortunate to end up on the losing side after some brilliant defending and a couple of good efforts at the other end as well.
Mervue manager Johnny Glynn gave a debut to new signing Neill Keane while Mark Ludden also returned to the home side after injury with Mike Tierney dropping to the bench. Waterford manager Stephen Henderson had to field without striker Willie John Kiely and midfielder Joe Mulcahy as both were out with dead legs.
The first quarter of an hour of the game was a tame affair as both sides created very little in the way of clear-cut opportunities. Mervue did however create the better chances in the first half and almost opened the scoring on 17 minutes. Nicky Curran’s delivery from a corner kick found centre half Damien O’Rourke at the back post and his header was blocked on the line by a Waterford defender before the ball was eventually cleared to safety.
Waterford’s Dave Warren volleyed over the crossbar from the edge of the box after a period of pressure from the visitors on 24 minutes. Two minutes later the home team were almost in front after a long throw by Kenny Farrell found O’Rourke in the box and his header flew narrowly over the crossbar.
On 32 minutes Warren almost caught Mervue keeper Eoin Martin out with a clever flicked header at the near post after Graham Cummins dummied Kevin Waters’ left wing cross. The half ended though as it had begun scoreless.
On the re-start Waterford’s Kevin Murray headed over the crossbar following a corner kick on 47 minutes while a minute later David Grincell’s diving header at the back post flew just wide following a Paul Walsh cross.
Mervue continued to push forward as they put in another improved performance following the past month’s results, which has seen them fall down the table to second from bottom. On 55 minutes O’Rourke broke forward to release Mark Ludden down the left wing and his cross into the box just evaded Neill Keane before being cleared for a corner. A good break by sub Kevin Crehan released Dave Goldbey down the right channel but his low ball across the box couldn’t find a Mervue player as Waterford’s defence once again cleared the danger.
On 69 minutes Pat Hoban put Ludden away down the left again and he beat Alan Carey before cutting into the box and his shot almost caught Michael Devine out, put the keeper somehow kept his effort out at his near post with a good save. Mervue introduced Mike Tierney for debutant Keane on 70 minutes and he almost made an instant impact three minutes later.
Mark Ludden’s corner kick was flapped at by Devine and dropped to Tierney at the back post but his touch knocked the ball onto the post when it looked easier to score with an open goal in front of him. This was a serious let off for the visitors who responded with John Kearney forcing a good save from Martin on 79 minutes before they opened the scoring a minute later.
A left wing cross into the box by Kevin Waters was not cleared for once by the Mervue defence and the ball dropped kindly to David Grincell and he made no mistake drilling the ball home from inside the box. He almost added a second two minutes later as he shot just wide.
Mervue almost grabbed an equaliser with four minutes to go as another dangerous Ludden cross to the back post was headed wide by the in rushing Rory Gaffney. Waterford made sure of the points in the final minute as Graham Cummins raced onto a ball over the top before coolly lobbing the advancing Martin to made it 2-0.
Another disappointing defeat for Mervue who really need to get a positive result to put their season back on track but at least they can look on their last two results with some confidence as they have played a lot better and look competitive again. Manager Glynn was very disappointed after the game with the result as he commented “we deserved something out of the game after playing very well and I was particularly pleased with our defending apart from the goals and Damien O’Rourke was exceptional again for us”
A strong finish to the game must have pleased Henderson as his side recorded their third win in a week and has propelled them into second position in the First Division. Next up is an EA Sports Cup semi final away to UCD on Tuesday night followed up by an away trip to in form Kildare County next Saturday evening. Mervue’s tough games continued though with an away trip to the Morton Stadium and fourth placed Sporting Fingal next Friday evening.
Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell, Damien O’Rourke, Nigel Keady, Michael Harty (Kevin Crehan 58 mins injured), Gary Traynor, Mark Ludden, Pat Hoban (Rory Gaffney 82 mins), Dave Goldbey, Neil Keane (Mike Tierney 70 mins). Subs not Used; Eric Browne and Alex Lee.
Waterford United: Michael Devine; Alan Carey, John Kearney, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne; Paul Walsh (Stephen Grant 68 mins), Seamus Long (Kieran Fitzgerald 75 mins), Dave Warren (Paul Carey 90 mins), Kevin Waters, Graham Cummins, David Grincell. Subs not Used: Kevin Burns.
Referee: Keith Callanan (Cork)
Man of the match: Damien O’Rourke (Mervue) – The stand-in captain led by example and was unfortunate to end up on the losing side after some brilliant defending and a couple of good efforts at the other end as well.
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