The Airtricity League of Ireland season may only be three weeks old, but Mervue United entertain Finn Harps at Fahy's Field tomorrow evening in a top of the table encounter.
Mervue maintained their impressive start to the campaign blitzing Waterford United by four goals at the RSC. That result has injected confidence into the Mervue camp, but Harps are quietly fancied by many to launch a promotion bid so another difficult assignment looms for Johnny Glynn's team.
Having produced a solid and stylish performance when hammering Waterford Mervue will be keen to deliver again. Seven points from three matches is a satisfactory return and were Mervue to avoid defeat
against Harps it would be a significant achievement. Tom King bagged a brace for Mervue at the RSC, while Noel Varley and Jason Molloy also rattled the Waterford net.
Admirably Mervue were clinical when it counted and that is precisely why theY sit proudly alongside Harps at the summit.
Peter Hutton's squad is loaded with youth, but Harps have a couple of experienced players too supplying a drop of guile which is required in this tough environment. Harps' weekend win over Longford Town was a sign that the Donegal club are keen to make a serious bid to secure a berth in the top flight once more.
Kevin McHugh is a prolific frontrunner capable of converting chances, while Michael Funston is an accomplished midfielder and both those footballers have been important contributors for Harps during the past
decade.
Ciaran Gallagher, Keith Cowan, Matthew Crossan, and Shaun McGowan are others that have caught the eye for Harps recently.
Goalkeeper Conor Gleeson, Michael McSweeney, Matin Conneely, King, Varley, and Marc Ludden have been consistent for Mervue in the first month of action. Maintaining such a high level of industry and
application is a challenge Mervue must embrace and they will be examined by Harps.
Pointless Salthill Devon make the short trip to Lissywoolen for a clash with Roddy Collins' Athlone Town. Thumped by Longford Salthill have since lost narrowly to Mervue and Wexford Youths so Tony Mannion's side will hope to be competitive in the midlands. Salthill failed to build on an early Eugene Greaney goal when taking the lead
against Wexford and they were eventually caught out in the closing stages.
It was a disappointing defeat, but Mannion will be looking to Colm Horgan, Mixie Harty, Willie Enubele, Enda Curran, and Jean Biansumba to gain some kind of dividend from the Athlone fixture.
