Mervue United proving their worth
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A week is a long time in football, so they say, and Mervue United will look to round off one of the more memorable ones in the club's history when they compete in their first ever FAI Youth Cup final on Sunday afternoon.
The begrudgers knock this progressive club for their entry into the League's midst and genuine ambition to provide the platform for their underage talent to shine. Eight of tomorrow afternoon's squad have been involved at League of Ireland level and how can anyone argue with their recent achievements?
Fresh from their Junior team winning Galway's Michael Byrne Cup in dramatic fashion in mid-week, Nicky Curran's late winner for the First Division side (seven points from last three games) against Athlone Town at Terryland Park has set the scene for the historic decider tomorrow against Fairview Rangers at Jackman Park.
Terry Flaherty provides us with this extensive preview of the final:
Mervue Utd's Youth team will contest the club’s first ever FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup final this Sunday afternoon when they take on Fairview Rangers in Limerick at Jackman Park (kick-off 2 pm). This Mervue side have been impressive in their march to this season’s national final with some excellent performances along the way.
The side is backboned by some of the club’s Airtricity League side, with players like Pat Hoban, Dan Cunningham, Enda Curran, Mike Elwood and Barry McEntee, who have all established themselves as regulars in Tom French’s side this season. Paul Scally, Phillip Ryan, Shane Keogh and goalkeeper Conor Winn have also featured in the club’s Airtricity League squad this season.
In this season’s competition Jarlath Connolly and Justin Neary’s side have defeated Roscommon Town, Westport Utd, Cork City, Clonmel Town and Newbridge Town to advance to Sunday’s national decider. In the last sixteen they defeated a fancied Cork City side as two second half goals from Pat Hoban saw the home side through to the last eight in a very competitive game.
In that last eight tie the home team overcame Clonmel Town with a devastating first half display. A goal down after just seven minutes the home team stormed back into the game scoring four times in the first half to lead 4-1 at the break.
Goals from Enda Curran, Dan Cunningham and two from Pat Hoban inside a seventeen minute spell proved decisive. Despite Clonmel pulling two second half goals back, Irish schools international Billy Lane added a fifth as Mervue ran out 5-3 winners.
In the semi final, another powerful first half display proved decisive once again, as three goals inside an eleven minute spell in the opening period were enough to see the home side through to the national final. Despite conceding two second half goals, one early and one late in the half, Mervue did enough to see it out and claim a spot in another national final.
The management team of Connolly and Neary know what it takes to win national titles, as Neary guided the club’s capture of the SFAI Barry Cup in 2003 along with club stalwart Billy Carr. Connolly was in charge of the club’s most recent capture of the SFAI Goodson Cup in 2006, when that record breaking side won all five cups available to them and included Manchester City's Greg Cunningham and Newcastle United's Stephen Folan among their talented squad.
They will be looking to their front pairing of Hoban and Curran to secure the goals, as between them they have netted the majority of Mervue’s goals in the Youth Cup campaign this season. They will also be looking for big performances from their midfield players like captain Scally, McEntee, Paul Smyth and Dan Cunningham.
Mervue’s defence have been excellent all season with Phillip Ryan, Mike Elwood, Eric Holland, James Casserly and goalkeeper Winn having all played their part in the path to the final.
Mervue’s opponents on Sunday, Fairview Rangers, have defeated Corbally Utd, Kilmallock Utd, Granville Rangers, Castlebar Celtic and Nenagh Celtic to reach this year’s final and will prove tough opposition for the Galway side on Sunday.
Mervue warmed up for this weekend’s big game with a 4-0 win over Hibs/Foyle to capture the Galway District League title last weekend and will be boosted by this win going into Sunday’s game. All roads will lead to Limerick for Mervue supporters on Sunday with the eager anticipation of capturing another national title.
The club are running a supporters bus to the game on Sunday and anyone interested in travelling can contact the clubhouse at 091 771609 to reserve a seat. The bus will depart the clubhouse at 12 noon and return after the game.
The begrudgers knock this progressive club for their entry into the League's midst and genuine ambition to provide the platform for their underage talent to shine. Eight of tomorrow afternoon's squad have been involved at League of Ireland level and how can anyone argue with their recent achievements?
Fresh from their Junior team winning Galway's Michael Byrne Cup in dramatic fashion in mid-week, Nicky Curran's late winner for the First Division side (seven points from last three games) against Athlone Town at Terryland Park has set the scene for the historic decider tomorrow against Fairview Rangers at Jackman Park.
Terry Flaherty provides us with this extensive preview of the final:
Mervue Utd's Youth team will contest the club’s first ever FAI Umbro Youth Challenge Cup final this Sunday afternoon when they take on Fairview Rangers in Limerick at Jackman Park (kick-off 2 pm). This Mervue side have been impressive in their march to this season’s national final with some excellent performances along the way.
The side is backboned by some of the club’s Airtricity League side, with players like Pat Hoban, Dan Cunningham, Enda Curran, Mike Elwood and Barry McEntee, who have all established themselves as regulars in Tom French’s side this season. Paul Scally, Phillip Ryan, Shane Keogh and goalkeeper Conor Winn have also featured in the club’s Airtricity League squad this season.
In this season’s competition Jarlath Connolly and Justin Neary’s side have defeated Roscommon Town, Westport Utd, Cork City, Clonmel Town and Newbridge Town to advance to Sunday’s national decider. In the last sixteen they defeated a fancied Cork City side as two second half goals from Pat Hoban saw the home side through to the last eight in a very competitive game.
In that last eight tie the home team overcame Clonmel Town with a devastating first half display. A goal down after just seven minutes the home team stormed back into the game scoring four times in the first half to lead 4-1 at the break.
Goals from Enda Curran, Dan Cunningham and two from Pat Hoban inside a seventeen minute spell proved decisive. Despite Clonmel pulling two second half goals back, Irish schools international Billy Lane added a fifth as Mervue ran out 5-3 winners.
In the semi final, another powerful first half display proved decisive once again, as three goals inside an eleven minute spell in the opening period were enough to see the home side through to the national final. Despite conceding two second half goals, one early and one late in the half, Mervue did enough to see it out and claim a spot in another national final.
The management team of Connolly and Neary know what it takes to win national titles, as Neary guided the club’s capture of the SFAI Barry Cup in 2003 along with club stalwart Billy Carr. Connolly was in charge of the club’s most recent capture of the SFAI Goodson Cup in 2006, when that record breaking side won all five cups available to them and included Manchester City's Greg Cunningham and Newcastle United's Stephen Folan among their talented squad.
They will be looking to their front pairing of Hoban and Curran to secure the goals, as between them they have netted the majority of Mervue’s goals in the Youth Cup campaign this season. They will also be looking for big performances from their midfield players like captain Scally, McEntee, Paul Smyth and Dan Cunningham.
Mervue’s defence have been excellent all season with Phillip Ryan, Mike Elwood, Eric Holland, James Casserly and goalkeeper Winn having all played their part in the path to the final.
Mervue’s opponents on Sunday, Fairview Rangers, have defeated Corbally Utd, Kilmallock Utd, Granville Rangers, Castlebar Celtic and Nenagh Celtic to reach this year’s final and will prove tough opposition for the Galway side on Sunday.
Mervue warmed up for this weekend’s big game with a 4-0 win over Hibs/Foyle to capture the Galway District League title last weekend and will be boosted by this win going into Sunday’s game. All roads will lead to Limerick for Mervue supporters on Sunday with the eager anticipation of capturing another national title.
The club are running a supporters bus to the game on Sunday and anyone interested in travelling can contact the clubhouse at 091 771609 to reserve a seat. The bus will depart the clubhouse at 12 noon and return after the game.
About Alan Dooley
is one of Extratime's longest serving contributors. Based in County Galway, Alan has been following the League of Ireland since the mid-1980s. His first memory of the drama of domestic football was Vinny Arkins, then … View Full Profile