Mervue United 0 - 0 SD Galway

The final Galway derby game ended in stalemate as ten man Mervue United secured a share of the points after defender Stephen Walsh saw red after half an hour at Fahy’s Field on Saturday night.

SD Galway probably shaded the play but the home side certainly had the better of the chances in the second period were both sides tried hard to secure an end of season win.

In an uneventful first half the only major talking point was Walsh’s sending off after 31 minutes as he saw red after an off the ball incident with SD Galway’s Eugene Greaney. Prior to that it took 21 minutes for the first shot on target as Enda Curran got on the end of one of many Brian Gaffney passes but struck his shot straight at Ger Hanley.

Mervue looked a lot livelier after being reduced to ten men as Pat Hoban headed wide and then Etanda Nkololo failed to control the ball in the box in a good position, while Alan Murphy had a shot well saved by James Keane.

Another run and pass by Gaffney set up Gerry Dolan for a sight on goal but he wasted the chance as he shot wide for the final action of the opening half. Just after the break Hoban had another effort on target after he turned his marker but Keane was equal to it again, while Gaffney’s clever close range back flick was saved by the alert Hanley at the other end.

On 59 minutes the home side came within inches of breaking the deadlock. Hoban saw his header diverted away for corner and Jason Molloy’s delivery found the striker at the near post but his second headed effort flew just past the wrong side of Keane’s post.

Gaffney curled a free-kick over the home wall on 68 minutes but just past Hanley’s post, while Dolan got away down the left wing and picked out Enda Curran on the edge of the box but he couldn’t connect properly with the ball as Hanley saved once again on 72 minutes.

A minute later and the best chance of the game arrived when Murphy won the ball back and then found himself clean through on goals but Keane advanced and got down quickly to smother the ball as the striker tried to slip the ball under him.

With five minutes remaining Noel Varley played a perfect ball over sub Dave Meehan for Nkololo to run onto and the winger struck a powerful effort against the post. SD Galway then thought they had grabbed a winner with three minutes to go when Jakub Tomanica picked out Gaffney at the near post from a corner but his header only rattled the side netting.

Alan Murphy got through on 73 minutes but James Keane advanced to save smartly as he denied the veteran striker. Etanda Nkololo then hit the post after a good ball from Noel Varley with five minutes remaining.

Brian Geraghty had a late header off target from another Dolan cross as both sides had to settle for a point a piece and a share of the bragging rights.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Tom King, Michael McSweeney, Martin Conneely, Stephen Walsh; Etanda Nkololo, Gary Kelly, Noel Varley, Jason Molloy (Andy Higgins 76); Alan Murphy, Pat Hoban.
Subs not used: Conor O’Malley (GK), Mike Elwood, Shane Keogh, Cian McBrien, Brian Connolly, Alex Lee.

Booked: Varley (40), Molloy (72).
Sent Off:  Walsh (31).

SD Galway: James Keane; Nicky Curran (Dave Meehan 62), Cian Fadden, Brian Geraghty, Eugene Greaney; Gerry Dolan, Willie Enubele (Timmy Molloy 79), Mike Harty, Brian Gaffney; Enda Curran (Paddy Quinlan 79) and Jakub Tomanica.
Subs Not Used: Jason Lyons, Jason Murphy, Cormac Rafferty.

Booked: E Curran (32), Geraghty (35), N Curran (50), Harty (53), Greaney (90+1).

Referee: Robert Harvey (Dublin).
Attendance: 256
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brian Gaffney (SD Galway).