Mervue United are on the brink of an amazing end to their first season in the Eircom League A Championship as they prepare to take on the First Division’s bottom club Kildare County in a promotion/relegation play-off over the next week. Tomorrow night’s first leg at Fahy’s Field (kick off 8pm ) promises to be a memorable occasion for all involved with the progressive club.
Finishing ahead of Derry City, Shamrock Rovers, Sligo Rovers, and Salthill Devon in Group 1 of the new competition has earned Johnny Glynn’s side the right to fight for a place in the First Division. Kildare County finished six points adrift at the foot of the First Division so can have no complaints about the situation they now find themselves in.
Mervue were slow to find their feet at this level, but magnificent away wins at Tolka Park and the Brandywell were crucial in helping them get to this position. Dave Goldbey, with bags of Eircom League experience to his name, has provided the goalscoring touch, netting 14 of his sides’ 24 goals.
A blend of youth and experience has been required along the way, with seasoned local campaigners like brothers Eric and Rynal Browne providing the leadership alongside the likes of talented youngsters such as Mike Elwood, Paul Scally, and Dan Cunningham.
Glynn and his assistant Mark Herrick have adopted a professional attitude in preparing their team for the rigours of senior football, and it has clearly paid off. They stand on the brink of a remarkable achievement, considering they assumed at the start of the campaign that it would be a season of transition.
The recent appointment of former Galway United boss Tony Cousins to the manager’s job in Kildare adds extra spice to the occasion. Cousins had brought about a resurrection in The Thoroughbreds’ form of late, grabbing four points from two games before eventual champions Dundalk smashed them for six on Saturday night on a dramatic conclusion to the First Division. Picking his side up for this next test is Cousins’ task, while Glynn will no doubt instil a fearlessness into his side as they literally have nothing to lose, and may well cause an upset tomorrow night before Friday’s return leg.
Mervue United Under 20s
Brian Laffey and Brendan O’Connor have guided the club’s U-20 side to the top of Pool Three in the competition thanks to a very productive week which saw them gain six points from two away fixtures. Shane Maher’s winner up in Derry capped a marvellous performance in which Neil Douglas and Pat Huban also got on the score sheet.
Another slender win was registered at Terryland Park on Wednesday night when goals from Paul Scally and Rory Gaffney sealed a 2-1 victory over Galway United, which sets them up nicely for their next fixture, a home tie with Finn Harps on the weekend of the 23rd.
