Mervue United 1 - 0 Athlone Town

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, May 22 2010


Mervue United recorded their first home win of the season and only their second of the season with a 1-0 victory over midland neighbours Athlone Town, as a late Nicky Curran strike sealed all three points in Terryland Park this afternoon.

Both sides fielded under strength teams due to injuries, international call-ups and the home side’s participation in tomorrow’s FAI Umbro Youth Cup final against Fairview Rangers in Limerick. Mervue manager Tom French had to make five forced changes from last week’s defeat at Limerick, while Athlone made three changes from their draw with Salthill Devon.

The home side started on the front foot and had their visitors under pressure from the off and could have gone in front as early as the third minute. A pinpoint cross from Evan Connolly picked out Kevin Crehan, but the midfielder headed his effort over Chris Bennion’s crossbar from inside the box.

Athlone’s Stephen Caffrey headed wide from a Robbie Benson corner after 17 minutes and two minutes later the home side almost went in front. A Rory Gaffney cross from the right was flicked on goalwards by Mike Tierney but a covering Mark Nolan rescued his side with goal line clearance, as Brian McCarthy headed the loose ball over his own crossbar.

On 23 minutes the lively Gaffney picked up a ball about 35 yards out, before unleashing a sweet effort which whistled by Bennion’s left hand post with the keeper static. Two minutes later and a deep left wing cross from Benson picked out Niall Scullion who headed badly wide in front of goal.

After that lively enough opening 25 minutes the game entered a lull as the heat seem to get to the players with little or no openings being created up to the break.

After that scoreless opening half and the home side came out with renew vigour looking to break the deadlock and secure a first home win. Gaffney once again was causing problems for the visitors as he found room on the right to hit a cross cum shot across the face Bennion’s goal, but neither Connolly or Mike Tierney could get that vital touch as the ball flew wide of the far post on 51 minutes.

Gaffney then hit another strike from inside the box straight at Bennion, while at the other end a cross from Austin Skelly picked out sub Gordon Watson but he headed straight at Padraig Lally.

McCarthy was booked for a foul on Gaffney just outside the box on 72 minutes and from the resultant free kick, Tommy Walsh curled his effort over the wall and past Bennion only to see the ball strike the inside of the post before hitting the keeper on the way out and Connolly completely missing the loose ball.

The only goal of the game arrived with five minute remaining as the home side pushed forward in numbers looking to gain maximum points. A long throw from Gaffney on the right was flicked on in the box by sub Colie Kelly and Nicky Curran stole in to strike past Bennion.

Despite a succession of corner kicks for the visitors in injury time, one which McCarthy headed wide and another which Robbie Farrell saw his headed cleared off the line by Crehan, the home side defended well to see it out.

Mervue United: Padraig Lally; Nicky Curran, Kenny Farrell, Eric Browne, Martin Conneely, Kevin Crehan, Mike Tierney, Tommy Walsh, Evan Connolly (Derek McWalter 89 mins) Rory Gaffney, Alex Lee (Colie Kelly 82 mins).
Subs not used: Daniel Waters, Darren Young, David Goldbey.
Booked Browne (73 mins), Connolly (88 mins), Gaffney (89mins)

Athlone Town: Chris Bennion, Mark Nolan, Shane O’Connell, Brian McCarthy, Stephen Relihan, Stephen Caffrey, Niall Scullion, Robbie Farrell, Austin Skelly, Robbie Benson (Richie O’Hanlon 52 mins injured), James Goggins (Gordon Watson 63 mins).
Subs not Used: Eoghan O’Shea, Garvan Broughall, Michael Sliggerman (GK).
Booked – McCarthy (71 mins) and Skelly (73mins)

Referee – Brendan Kelly (Offaly)
Attendance – 150 approx.
Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Kevin Crehan (Mervue Utd)