Mervue United -v- Cork City

• Terry Flaherty
• Thu, Mar 10 2011


Airtricity First Division football is finally coming home to Fahy's Field on Friday night as Mervue Utd’s home-turf will be added to the list of League of Ireland grounds when they entertain Cork City at the venue. Kick-off 7.45 p.m.

It will be a very historic occasion for the progressive Galway club, having played the past two seasons in Terryland Park, they can now look forward to attracting a bigger local crowd on their own doorstep. Their season has been all positive so far following an opening night City derby win over neigbours Salthill Devon in Drom last Saturday night. Debutant Tom King and Nicky Curran scored the all important goals that delivered the city bragging rights and a winning start.

Cork City also got off to a winning start with a 1-0 home win over Wexford Youths courtesy of a Vinny Sullivan first half strike. City boss Tommy Dunne was pleased with the win: “I was generally pleased with the Wexford game as I think we created enough chances to win two or three games, so that is one aspect which we have to work on. Overall I was pleased, but we will need to be better this week if we want to pick up another three points.”

City defeated Mervue on all three occasions on which the sides met last season, but Dunne is expecting a tougher challenge on Friday and says it is important that his players focus on the task at hand: “There will be a sense of occasion for Mervue as it is their first game in their own ground so it will be a difficult fixture for us, but we just have to be well prepared and confident in our own ability. Our aim is to pick up the three points, but Johnny Glynn will have his team fit and organised, and we will need to be on top of our game.”

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn was also delighted with his side’s winning start "I always said that there would only be a kick of a ball between the two sides and that proved to be the case. We took our chances on the night but then lost our concentration for periods and got a bit nervy after conceding, having gone 2-0 up. We are delighted with the win and to start on a winning note is great, especially in a city derby game."

On Friday night’s historic first game for the club at Fahy’s Field, Glynn added "the winning start sets us up nicely for a very big night for the club at Fahy’s Field on Friday and we are looking forward to hopefully a big crowd behind us on the night against a Cork City side we have yet to beat. The club have put a lot of hard work into getting the ground up to licensing standard, so it would be nice to get a good result on Friday night but Cork have always proved tough opposition for us".

Mervue have a number of injuries going into the game as captain Damien ORourke (achilles), Mark Ludden (groin), John Mountney (knee) and Eoin Martin (hand) are all on the sidelines, while David Goldbey also sits this one out having required twelve stitches in his head following his clash with Salthill’s James Whelan last week. Mike Elwood also serves a one game ban so Alex Lee, Barry McEntee and Mike Collins could return to the squad.

Tommy Dunne will have winger Derek O’Brien available for the first time, having sat out the Wexford game through suspension, but defender Kalen Spillane will miss out after being sent off late in the game last week. Rory Morrissey will miss out with an ankle injury, while Alan Carey is also out due to an achilles injury. Stephen Mulcahy (groin) remains a long term injury. Shane Duggan, who came off the bench against Wexford should be in contention to start the game following his hip injury.

An interesting night in store on the west coast and with the home side the only Galway side at home this weekend it will hopefully see a big crowd descend on Fahy’s Field for what should be a memorable LOI occasion.

Mervue Utd
Injured: Damien O’Rourke, Mark Ludden, David Goldbey and Eoin Martin
Doubtful: John Mountney (knee)
Suspended: Mike Elwood

Cork City
Injured: Stephen Mulcahy (groin), Alan Carey (Achilles), Rory Morrissey (Ankle)
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Kalen Spillane

Referee: Paul McLoughlin.

Paddy Power odds: Mervue Utd 7/2; Draw 27/10; Cork City 8/13.

Extratime prediction: A share of the spoils 1-1