Four wins on the trot ensure Mervue United have a live chance of claiming an Airtricity League first division play/off place.
Waterford United, Longford Town, and Mervue are all involved in the race with Johnny Glynn's side that is regaining form and momentum at precisely the right time. Last Friday's success over Longford Town was achieved courtesy of a Michael Duffy goal and now Mervue host Cobh Ramblers tomorrow in a critical contest.
The Longford success was achieved with a solid display and Mervue's ability to dig out results at Fahy's Field has helped them on their promotion journey this year. The facts and figures are encouraging ahead of the Cobh contest. Mervue have won eight out of 13 fixtures at the venue and have only suffered two defeats on home turf, confirming their resilience and resourcefulness with 24 goals being scored at Fahy's Field. On the road Mervue have triumphed in four of their 13 encounters to date and with a trip to Wexford Youths' Ferrycarrig Park on the agenda, the Galway outfit are aware that two positive results must be posted.
Cobh, all-action and attacking football at St Colman's Park, have struggled outside their comforting home environment and have yet to register an away victory. Five draws and eight losses is what Cobh have managed in their matches throughout the country, so Mervue will be hoping not to be caught.
Longford host Wexford Youths on Saturday before making the short trip to champions' Athlone Town, while Waterford entertain Salthill Devon tomorrow and then face an awkward assignment in Cobh, so two Mervue successes could be enough to earn them either second or third in the standings.
That would be an excellent achievement for Mervue, who are involved in the formation of Galway FC, so even if they gain promotion, they are unlikely to operate in the top flight. Despite that uncertainty Mervue's players and management deserve significant credit for how they are concluding the season with September being a particularly efficient month. In October Mervue must be similarly enterprising and they would be delighted if cross town rivals Salthill can do them a favour in the south east when colliding with Waterford.
Worryingly, though, Salthill have not won since July 26 when they outfoxed Cobh at Drom and, in the intervening two months, Devon have been beaten by every side in the division. Seven straight reversals mean Salthill make the long trek to the RSC low on confidence after losing to Cobh again on Saturday.
For spells in that game Salthill were plucky and persistent, but Robert Waters' strike proved decisive even though Colm Horgan, Brian Geraghty, Robbie Gaul, Timmy Molloy, and Mixie Harty battled valiantly. Salthill have been a tad unfortunate recently, but with Waterford gunning for a play-off position, their next examination is loaded with problems.
