NUI Galway advanced in the FAI Junior Cup with a hard earned win over Mervue United in Dangan yesterday morning. The conditions often windswept and bleak, intersperses of calm allowed for passages of flowing football in a contest that hung in the balance throughout.
College will have felt vindicated in their win after shading the tie. Aided by a strong breeze in the first, they played higher up the park and seemed at ease with the ball in midfield. David Cooke impressed in this avenue and he nearly provided an ideal opener inside 10 minutes. After gathering in midfield he went at the stout Mervue defence and fired off a low shot from the edge of the area that could only be denied by the post.
A physically imposing Mervue side had a chance of their own when a fine Aaron Finnerty set-piece delivery failed to attract a header but College were to deservedly break the deadlock, in some style. The ball was worked down the right touchline and reached striker Chris Monahan. With his back to goal he laid off to Rory Bluett who struck sweetly from outside the D into the top of Trevor Garvey’s net. 1-0 just before the half hour mark.
Things opened up after this wonder strike and with a greater sense of urgency Mervue finally began to penetrate in attack. Colie Kelly was played through neatly by Robert Connolly after 34 minutes, only for his shot to flash just wide of the goal. Two minutes later his strike partner Dermot Ward had an even better chance but his under-par effort was well dealt with by ’keeper Johnny Burke. At the other end Derek O’Flaherty went agonisingly close after a corner on the stroke of half time.
This flurry of activity was in direct contrast with a tame opening to the second. College looked comfortable in command with Mervue struggling to make an impact as the game gradually ebbed away. Yet given the conditions their lead remained a fledgling one and was eventually eradicated on 71 minute by quintessential route one football. Custodian Garvey boomed a long clearance that bounced awkwardly in front of the College back four. Centre-back John Hynes expected too much of Burke to collect as he was beaten to it by Dermot Ward, who touched past the goalie and allowed an unusually quiet Colie Kelly to oblige the empty net.
Spurred into action, College almost immediately responded when David Cooke expertly sent Creane through on goal, only for the lively striker’s hurried effort to swerve just over. Yet further pressing was to provide a winner. O’Flaherty worked well down the left and stole free from Ger McGrath to find Creane in the box, who atoned for his previous miss with a confident finish that proved enough to navigate his team to the next round.
NUIG: J Burke; R Moloney, E O’ Loughlin, J Hynes, R Byrne; T Ryder, R Bluett (V Carrigan 61 ), D Cooke, M Creane; D O’Flaherty, C Monahan (W Geoghegan 75 ).
Mervue United: T Garvey; A Finnerty, C Lynskey, G McGrath; C O’ Flaherty; E Feeney (E Coyle 82 ), R Connolly, S Chawla, D Smyth (B Mooney 61 ); C Kelly, D Ward.
Referee: John Doyle.
