Salthill Devon 1 - 2 Mervue United

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Mar 05 2011


The first Galway city derby game of the season went the way of the visitors on Saturday night as Mervue Utd claimed all three points on offer courtesy of two first half strikes from Tom King and Nicky Curran.

After a quiet opening 20 minutes, in which both sides failed to pick out pass after pass, the game did thankfully liven up on 25 minutes when the visitors took the lead.

A cute inside pass by young midfielder Kevin Crehan set up debutant Tom King and he coolly slotted a low strike under Ronan Forde on 25 minutes. Salthill's French striker Etanda Nkololo struck a good effort just past the post on 37 minutes as the home side tried to respond.

However it was Mervue who doubled their lead in spectacular fashion eight minutes before the break. Full back Nicky Curran advanced down the right wing before cutting inside and unleashing a cracking drive into the far corner past a stunned Ronan Forde.

Salthill responded immediately and within two minutes Victor Collins took advantage of slack marking in the visitors box to head into the bottom corner from a Cian McBrien free-kick. Ciprian Straut then fired just wide of Ger Hanley’s post, while Kevin Crehan headed a Noel Varley corner kick over the home crossbar.

Salthill should have been level four minutes after the break as Martin Conneely mis-directed a clearance that required Hanley to race from his line to clear. But both ended up getting in each others way which allowed Ciprian Straut a shot at an empty goal, but his effort sailed over the crossbar.

At the other end Jason Molloy shot straight at Forde while Rory Gaffney struck a free-kick just past Forde’s post on 56 minutes. Salthill found themselves reduced to ten men on 71 minutes after young full back Eugene Greaney, who had been booked in the ninth minute, fouled King to receive his second yellow card and an early shower.

After that the game became very scrappy once again as Mervue ran the clock down with Molloy shooting just wide on 83 minutes. Despite four minutes of injury time, plus a long stoppage following a clash of heads between James Whelan and David Goldbey which required the latter to be stretched off, the visitors collect the spoils and the bragging rights in the city of the tribes tonight.

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde, Eugene Greaney, Gearoid O’Leidhinn (Enda Dunne 94), James Whelan, Cian Fadden, Luke McConnell (Shane Browne 53), Ciprian Straut, Victor Collins, Etanda Nkololo, Daniel Rupa, Cian McBrien.
Subs not used: Tony Ward, Paddy Quinlan, Julian Howley and Bernard Power.

Bookings: Greaney (9)
Sendings off: Greaney (72)

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley; Nicky Curran, Dan Cunningham, Eric Browne, Martin Conneely; Kevin Crehan, Mike Tierney (David Goldbey 79), Tom King, Noel Varley (David O’Brien 65); Jason Molloy (Darren Kelly 90), Rory Gaffney.
Subs not used: Mike Elwood, James Casserely, Peter Dravins, TJ Forde.

Bookings: Cunningham (21), Molloy (60).

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald.
Extratime Man of the Match: Nicky Curran.
Attendance: 400 (estimate).