Mervue United 2 - 4 Shelbourne

• Terry Flaherty
• Fri, Sep 25 2009


Shelbourne eventually overcame a Mervue Utd side who basically shot themselves in the foot in this First Division game at Terryland Park tonight. Mervue led twice in the game but did themselves no favours with two players being sent off as well as scoring two own goals.

In a highly entertaining game Mervue took an early lead when Paul Danagher headed in Mark Ludden’s corner kick on ten minutes. Shels were level 15 minutes later when David McGill released Peter Hynes into the box and he made no mistake shooting past Eoin Martin.

Mervue regained the lead on 37 minutes when Mike Tierney headed Pat Hoban’s free kick into the bottom corner. Three minutes later though and they were reduced to ten men as Mark Ludden picked up his second yellow following a foul on Colin O’Brien. Danagher almost made it 3-1 just before the break as he headed another free kick just wide of the mark.

Shelbourne wasted no time after the break as they drew level on 50 minutes with David McAllister shooting past Martin from the edge of the box after Colin O’Brien’s pass inside. Danagher then had another header clear of the line from a Alex Lee corner as Mervue looked for the lead again.

Mervue then did themselves no favours after that as Shelbourne took the lead for the first time in the game when Colin O’Brien’s dangerous low cross was diverted into his own net by Mervue sub Mixie Harty on 67 minutes. Four minutes later and fellow Mervue sub Alex Lee received his marching orders following a silly kick out at a Shelbourne player.

It only got worse for the home side as they conceded again on 73 minutes when another dangerous O’Brien cross was headed into his own net by Mervue centre half Danagher to make it 4-2.

Mervue United: Eoin Martin, Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell (Mixie Harty 63 mins), Damien O’Rourke, Paul Danaher, Kevin Crehan, Pat Hoban, Mark Ludden, David O’Dowd, Evan Connolly (Neil Keane 77 mins), Mike Tierney (Alex Lee 55 mins) Subs not used; Rory Gaffney and Rynal Browne.

Shelbourne: Dean Delaney; Damien Brennan, Stephen Quigley (Ray Scully 63 mins), Kevin Doherty (David Crawley 46 mins), Michael Synott, Mark O'Brien, David McGill, David McAllister, Colin O’Brien, Peter Hynes (Alan Keely 90 mins), Derek Doyle. Subs not used: Vinny Whelan.

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork)

Extratime Man of the Match: Colin O’Brien (Shelbourne) – A thorn in the side of Mervue all night on the right wing and created three of his side’s goals.