Mervue United -v- Kildare County

• Terry Flaherty
• Fri, Jul 10 2009


Two teams desperately looking for points and in poor form meet at Terryland Park tonight with a 7.45 kick-off. Mervue’s recent form has been very poor with only one win in their last ten games and two heavy defeats in their last two. Kildare have struggled badly this season having only taken one point in their sixteen games so far and that was in their very first game against Finn Harps.

It’s been a tough few weeks for Johnny Glynn’s side as two very heavy defeats at the hands of Monaghan Utd (5-1) and Shelbourne (7-0) have seen the club slip to tenth in the First Division table. Up to this point they had been performing well in their first season at this level and had been sitting in mid table until their recent run of bad form.

Commenting on last weeks defeat in Tolka Park Glynn said “It was a bad night for us and we didn’t feel too good after it but we came across a very good team on top form”. He added there was a sombre mood in the camp after the game but that there was a determination to immediately bounce back.

Mervue host a much improved Kildare County side who have put in some decent performances of late only losing out to late goals from high flying Sporting Fingal and UCD in their last two games. Joey Somerville’s side, though, are still looking for their first win of the season and judging from their recent performances that win isn’t too far away.

In the most recent meetings of these sides Mervue hold the upper hand having gained their league status defeating Kildare 5-2 over two legs in last seasons relegation/promotion play-off. Mervue also gained their second win in the First Division with a 3-0 win over Kildare at Station Road back in April.

Glynn should welcome back Nicky Curran from a toe injury as he trained during the week while Nigel Keady and Mike Tierney came through the Shelbourne game unscathed after returning from injury. Glynn will though be without David O’Dowd, Ger McGrath and Noel McDonnell as they are all still recovering from injuries. Kildare boss Somerville has no new injury worries for tonights game but is without suspended duo, Davy Byrne and Orrin Farrell after their recent sending-off’s.

An important game for both sides as one looks to get back to winning ways and banish the memory of recent defeats while the other looks to get a first win of the season under their belt. Home advantage might just swing this one in Mervue’s favour and see them get a postive result after recent bad results.

Prediction: A 2-1 home win for Mervue but it will be tight on current form.