Salthill Devon -v- Mervue United

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Aug 13 2011


The final Galway City derby game of the season takes place this weekend as Salthill Devon host cross-town rivals Mervue Utd in Drom on Saturday evening in the first game of the final series of First Division fixture’s. (Kick-off, 7pm)

Both sides had contrasting results last weekend as Devon defeated Wexford Youths for the second time this season, while Mervue crashed to a 2-0 away defeat at the hands of an improving Finn Harps. Both Galway sides will be eager to secure a win on Saturday evening that would not only see three important points claimed but also the final bragging rights of the season.

Paul McGee’s Salthill side finally registered their first home win of the season with a hard fought 2-1 win over fellow strugglers Wexford Youths last Sunday afternoon in Drom. McGee’s side showed great character to bounce back from a goal down to collect the all-important three points as goals from former Mervue and Galway Utd player, Emmet Shaw, and exciting teenager, Timmy Molloy, secured the win.

Johnny Glynn’s Mervue side have been one of the most improved sides in the league this season but have lost a number of key players in the past month as Tom King (cruciate), Nicky Curran (knee), Dan Cunningham (broken bone) have all been side-lined through injury, while Rory Gaffney has transferred to promotion chasing Limerick. Goalkeeper TJ Forde has now been added to that list as he will miss the remainder of the season having suffered a cruciate ligament tear.

Glynn was disappointed with last week’s result but happy enough with his side’s performance. “I thought we did quite well particularly in the first half and created a lot of chances but the concession of two early second half goals swung the game and it was hard to come back especially losing three players to injury as well.” That loss to Harps has given Glynn a major headache ahead of this weekend with another four of his players picking up injuries last weekend as Pat Hoban (thigh strain), Alex Lee (neck injury), Martin Conneely (calf injury), James Casserly (groin injury) all haven’t trained this week ahead of the big derby game.

Derby games between these two city rivals have been close affairs in all five Airtricity League games to date, with Mervue shading the honours with two wins, while the other games finished with a Salthill win and two draws (2-2 and 0-0). Mervue opened the season with a 2-1 win in Drom (both their scorers that night Tom King and Nicky Curran are currently out injured) so Salthill will be looking to avenge that defeat, while two Mervue missed penalties in the club’s last meeting in Fahy’s Field ensured a scoreless draw.

Salthill could move off the bottom of the table for the first time this season if they could capture all three points, while Mervue will be looking to secure a win that could propel them back up to sixth in the table depending on other results over the weekend.

Salthill Devon:
Injured: Robbie Porter.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Mervue United:
Injured: Nicky Curran (knee), Damien O’Rourke (achilles), Tom King (cruciate), Dan Cunningham (broken bone), TJ Forde (knee).
Doubtful: Pat Hoban (thigh strain), Alex Lee (neck), Martin Conneely (calf), James Casserley (groin).
Suspended: None.

Referee: Graham Kelly (Cork).
Paddy Power odds: Salthill Devon 100/30; Draw 9/4; Mervue Utd 4/5.
Extratime prediction: An exciting 2-2 draw!