Mervue United 4 - 3 Longford Town

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Jul 10 2010


A seven goal thriller was played out at a very wet Terryland Park as Mervue Utd claimed a vital three points and closed the gap to seven on their nearest rivals, Longford Town, at the bottom end of the Airtricity First Division table.

The home side took an early advantage when Rory Gaffney played a lovely ball through to Evan Connolly and he lifted his effort over the advancing Aaron Shanahan into the far corner for 1-0.

Longford were back level just 5 minutes later when Victor Ekamem slotted a loose ball past Ger Hanley after the goalkeeper had parried a Lee Roache header following a corner. Roache then had an effort well saved by Hanley on 18 minutes before JP McDonagh should have put them in front when he raced onto a through ball but sent his effort wide of the post.

Mervue went back in front just after the half hour mark when Evan Connolly’s right wing cross found the unmarked Dan Cunningham at the back post and he made no mistake with his low effort into the bottom corner on 32 minutes. It got better for the home side just six minutes later as a brilliant run by Mike Tierney saw him advance into the visitors box before despatching a smashing effort past Aaron Shanahan into the roof of the net for a 3-1 half time lead.

A long range Rory Gaffney effort wasn’t far off the mark ten minutes after the break as he saw his effort dip just over Shanahan’s crossbar. A run down the left wing by Dan Cunningham saw him cut across the box before being fouled just on the edge of the area and from the resultant free-kick up stepped sub Tommy Walsh to curl it brilliantly over the wall and past Shanahan for 4-1 on 59 minutes.

Longford almost pulled a goal back 3 minutes later as Mark Salmon floated a free-kick into the box which was met by Chris Deans but his header was brilliantly saved by Hanley. Longford did reduce the advantage back to 4-2 when JP McDonagh fired past Hanley following a knock on by sub Don Cohen on 66 minutes.

Rory Gaffney should have restored the home side’s three goal lead on 74 minutes after Cunningham picked him out in the box but his header was parried by Shanahan. At the other end Hanley saved well from a Peter Hynes header following a good cross by Cathal Brady. Gaffney got through on goals after a ball forward released him but he tried to lob the advancing keeper only managing to pull his effort badly wide of the goals.

With six minutes remaining the visitors made it a nervous finish for the home side as Chris Deans headed home a John Lester free-kick. Longford pilled forward in search of an equaliser in the closing stages as Hanley saved Lester’s shot at the second attempt, while a smart corner to Salmon on the edge of the box saw him smash his effort off the underside of the crossbar before bouncing away to safety.

Longford continued to pour forward into the three additional minutes but a Peter Hynes header which flew wide from another Lester free-kick was as close as they got as Mervue held on to record their third win of the season.

Mervue United: Ger Hanley; Kevin Crehan, Kenny Farrell (David Goldbey 79 mins), Nicky Curran (Tommy Walsh 46 mins), Mike Elwood; Noel Varley (Alex Lee 70 mins), Mike Tierney, Pat Hoban, Evan Connolly, Rory Gaffney, and Dan Cunningham.
Subs not used: Mark Ludden and Brian Mannion.
Booked: Kevin Crehan (41 mins), Tommy Walsh (60 mins), Alex Lee (84 mins)

Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan, Niall O’Reilly, Mike Lee, Chris Deans, Thomas Hyland (Peter Hynes 42 mins), Cathal Brady, John Lester, Mark Salmon, Victor Ekanem, Lee Roache (Don Cohen 54 mins), JP McDonagh (Jason Adebola 73 mins).
Subs not used: Gary Cronin and Kevin Cronin.
Booked: Thomas Hyland (26 mins)

Referee: Jim McKell
Attendance: 100 approx
Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Dan Cunningham –scored his first ever league goal and was a constant threat.