Mervue United -v- Salthill Devon

• Terry Flaherty
• Thu, Oct 07 2010


A game that will ultimately decide who will finish bottom of the Airtricity First Division and face the relegation play-off as Mervue Utd play hosts to Salthill Devon in the third Galway City derby of the season. (Kick-off 7.45 p.m.)

Neither side has set the First Division alight this season and both have been marooned at the bottom of the table for the entire campaign. Mervue have managed to win three games (Finn Harps, Athlone Town and Longford Town) this season, while Salthill’s only win on the field of play was in the corresponding fixture in Drom in July.

The home side do enter the game a point clear of their city rivals following a 2-2 draw away to Longford Town last Saturday as they ended a twelve match losing run in a game they should have won having led twice. Salthill on the other hand went down 3-1 to Limerick FC despite taking a very early lead in the game.

The Seasider’s hold the upper hand in the two clubs meetings this season having taken four points in those two games. In the first ever Galway city derby game in the League of Ireland, the sides shared the points after a 2-2 draw. A Rory Gaffney double looked to have given Mervue their first win of the season back in April in that historic game, but Devon snatched a dramatic 94th minute equaliser through Enda Dunne to claim an unlikely point.

Salthill took all three points in the reverse fixture in Drom in mid July, as a goal in either half earned them their very first win of the Airtricity First Division as they claimed the bragging rights courtesy of goals from former Mervue player Gerry Burke and Chiprian Straut.

Tom French will have a full squad to choose from apart from long term injury victim, Kenny Farrell (knee) and the unavailable Tommy Walsh. Striker Enda Curran is available again following suspension and midfielder Mike Tierney could return to the squad having returned to training recently following his recent injury.

Salthill also look to have a full squad available for their most important game of their debut season with a doubt over goalkeeper Ronan Forde manager Emlyn Long’s only worry.

With only four games remaining, a win for either side tonight will surely see them avoid the relegation play-off. Both sides will be looking to ensure that, so a lively affair can be expected at Terryland Park on Thursday night.

Extratime.ie Prediction: A 1-1 draw