Mervue United 0 - 1 Longford Town

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Oct 10 2009


A cracking first half strike from Gary Curran proved to be the only goal of a dour affair in Terryland Park as Gareth Cronin’s side collected all three points at the expense of Mervue United. A totally forgettable game was played out as chances and entertainment were at the bare minimum.

Johnny Glynn made one change from the side that beat Kildare County last week as Nigel Keady replaced Paul Danaher, who dropped to the bench. Eric Browne and Alex Lee returned from suspension but had to settle for a place on the bench. Longford forced the first corner of the game after only three minutes from which Darren McKenna got a free header but couldn’t direct his effort on target as it flew wide.

Both sides cancelled each other out in the opening 20 minutes as no real chances were created by either side. Mervue fashioned an opening after 23 minutes when winger Rory Gaffney got free on the left of the box and cut a low cross into the danger area where Kevin Cronin cleared for a corner with Dave Goldbey lurking on the edge of the six yard box. Four minutes later, Michael Foley floated a 25 yard free-kick just inches over the crossbar at the other end.

With no shot on target in the first half an hour, Gary Curran picked the ball up 25 yards out and he curled a beautiful effort into the top right hand corner giving Eoin Martin no chance on 31 minutes. Mervue thought they had equalised three minutes later, as Mike Tierney’s knock down was tapped into an empty net by Dave Goldbey, but somehow the assistant referee flagged for offside when he looked well onside having run onto Tierney’s ball.

Mervue’s Kevin Crehan shot straight at Aaron Shanahan after a good lay-off by Pat Hoban just outside the box on 52 minutes. Darren McKenna struck a good effort from outside the box under Martin for what he thought was Longford’s second on 65 minutes but referee Phil Caschera had already blown for a foul by Nigel Keady on the edge of the box. Stephen Gough’s effort from the resultant free-kick took a deflection and flew just wide of Martin’s right hand post.

On 68 minutes Kenny Farrell’s high ball into the box was not cleared and broke to Damien O’Rourke who headed straight into Shanahan’s arms. Sadly this proved to be the Mervue captain O’Rourke’s final action as he accidentally clashed with a Longford defender following this effort and had to be stretchered off suffering from a facial injury and concussion.

Mervue’s best chance of drawing level came from a quickly taken Rory Gaffney corner which was met by Pat Hoban who glanced his header agonisingly wide of the post on 81 minutes. Despite some late pressure by the home side Longford defended in numbers and held out for the win to move up to ninth in the table and three points clear of Mervue.

Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell, Damien O’Rourke (Paul Danaher 71 mins), Nigel Keady, Kevin Crehan, Pat Hoban, Rory Gaffney, David O’Dowd, David Goldbey (Alex Lee 77 mins), Mike Tierney (Rynal Browne 71 mins).
Subs not used: Eric Browne, Mixie Harty.

Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan, Carmine Russo, Kevin Cronin, Jason McCartney, Stephen Gough, Tom King (Liam Lynch 59 mins), Gary Curran, Michael Foley, Darren McKenna, Derek Glynn, Adrian Murphy (Michael Lee 61 mins).
Subs not used: Colm Jinks, Shane O’Brien.

Referee: Phil Caschera (Dublin).