Encouraged by a battling performance in Ballybofey that yielded a point, Salthill Devon will be hoping to maintain that level of performance when Cork City visit Drom tomorrow afternoon.
The 3pm kick off should ensure a decent crowd for the contest with a promotion-chasing Cork team that features former Galway United favourite Derek O’Brien.
Cork top the first division table with a healthy 15-point haul from their first seven matches and O’Brien’s performances have assisted them in their satisfying start to the campaign.
Salthill were slightly unlucky to be defeated by Waterford United three weeks ago and the manner in which they secured a share of the spoils against Finn Harps offers some encouragement.
Gearoid O’Leidhinn, Cian Fadden, and Cian McBrien have all occupied crucial roles in Salthill’s past two encounters and they will be significant performers for Emlyn Long and Mike Quirke’s side in the coming weeks and months.
Mervue United were outfoxed by a Stephen O’Flynn-inspired Limerick FC at Fahy’s Field last Friday and their clash with Athlone Town tomorrow will provide a real barometer to their current standing.
Unsurprisingly Johnny Glynn has Mervue well organised and busy, but it is in the ties with the likes of Athlone, Wexford Youths, Salthill, and Harps that the well regarded coach will be targeting results.
Athlone, now under the stewardship of Mike Kerley, have a raft of footballers with League of Ireland experience from their time with Limerick, but the midlanders also feature several local youngsters.
Mervue are operating with similar type players so it promises to be a revealing contest and, if Mervue are solid early on, they can maintain their decent start to 2011.
