Mervue United -v- Wexford Youths
Credit:
Wexford Youths travel to Galway for the first time ever in the League of Ireland when they take on Mervue Utd at Terryland Park on Friday night (kick-off 7.45 p.m.). Both teams recent form has not been good, as the home side have lost their last eight league games while Wexford have lost their last two.
Mervue are without a league win since the end of May when they defeated Limerick 1-0 at home and since then have lost all nine games in league and cup action. An alarming loss of form has seen them drop to second from bottom and badly needing a positive result to stop the rot. Although in their last two games they were a lot more competitive and possibly should have got something from the Waterford United game. Johnny Glynn’s side still ended up with no points from either game as the concession of very late (Waterford) and early goals (Sporting Fingal) in both games cost them dearly.
Wexford have had a very good season so far and sit in a comfortable fifth place having occupied that position for most of the season. A dip in form lately has seen defeats in their last two home games to Kildare (3-0) and Monaghan (2-0) have seen a loss of form. On a plus their away form has been excellent this season as they have recorded six of their ten league wins on the road with their away form much better than their home form (19 of their 31 points have been gained away from home). Mervue have been warned! Mick Wallace and his squad will be looking to steady the ship again and put some more points on the board.
In Mervue team news, Johnny Glynn will once again be without midfielders Mixie Harty and Rynal Browne while David O’Dowd is still out, as he awaits a facial mask to cover his fractured cheek bone. Mike Tierney should return to the squad having come through a friendly game with the under 20 team while recent signing Neill Keane is fit again having missed the Fingal game.
Mick Wallace will have the benefit of the club’s Under 18’s who were unavailable for the Monaghan game due to the Melbourne Cup in Cork (which they won) so Shane Sinnott, Martin Kehoe, Muzzi Mullan, Robert Vickers and the impressive Jimmy Keohane could all feature. Wallace commented “We need to freshen things up with some changes to personnel and having 48 players registered means that there are plenty of options. There is little doubt but our psychological approach has left a bit to be desired on occasions – when our preparation and mental attitude is spot on, we are capable of giving any of the teams in our division a run for their money, but sadly, consistency continues to prove beyond our reach”.
When these two sides met back in May a David Breen second half goal was all that separated them as Wexford secured a 1-0 win so Mervue will be looking to avenge that defeat. Mervue have been a very difficult team to beat at home as three of the top four teams in the league have scraped out of Terryland with narrow wins, thanks to late goals. While Sporting Fingal could only manage a draw on the Dyke Road ground.
Prediction: It could all end level with both sides happy with a point 1-1.
Mervue are without a league win since the end of May when they defeated Limerick 1-0 at home and since then have lost all nine games in league and cup action. An alarming loss of form has seen them drop to second from bottom and badly needing a positive result to stop the rot. Although in their last two games they were a lot more competitive and possibly should have got something from the Waterford United game. Johnny Glynn’s side still ended up with no points from either game as the concession of very late (Waterford) and early goals (Sporting Fingal) in both games cost them dearly.
Wexford have had a very good season so far and sit in a comfortable fifth place having occupied that position for most of the season. A dip in form lately has seen defeats in their last two home games to Kildare (3-0) and Monaghan (2-0) have seen a loss of form. On a plus their away form has been excellent this season as they have recorded six of their ten league wins on the road with their away form much better than their home form (19 of their 31 points have been gained away from home). Mervue have been warned! Mick Wallace and his squad will be looking to steady the ship again and put some more points on the board.
In Mervue team news, Johnny Glynn will once again be without midfielders Mixie Harty and Rynal Browne while David O’Dowd is still out, as he awaits a facial mask to cover his fractured cheek bone. Mike Tierney should return to the squad having come through a friendly game with the under 20 team while recent signing Neill Keane is fit again having missed the Fingal game.
Mick Wallace will have the benefit of the club’s Under 18’s who were unavailable for the Monaghan game due to the Melbourne Cup in Cork (which they won) so Shane Sinnott, Martin Kehoe, Muzzi Mullan, Robert Vickers and the impressive Jimmy Keohane could all feature. Wallace commented “We need to freshen things up with some changes to personnel and having 48 players registered means that there are plenty of options. There is little doubt but our psychological approach has left a bit to be desired on occasions – when our preparation and mental attitude is spot on, we are capable of giving any of the teams in our division a run for their money, but sadly, consistency continues to prove beyond our reach”.
When these two sides met back in May a David Breen second half goal was all that separated them as Wexford secured a 1-0 win so Mervue will be looking to avenge that defeat. Mervue have been a very difficult team to beat at home as three of the top four teams in the league have scraped out of Terryland with narrow wins, thanks to late goals. While Sporting Fingal could only manage a draw on the Dyke Road ground.
Prediction: It could all end level with both sides happy with a point 1-1.
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