It took a hearty arm wrestle but Mervue United slipped through to the next round of the Connacht Junior Cup on the back of a 1-0 Fahy’s Field win yesterday afternoon.
There was not one minute of the game that the home side could safely say that the result was in the bag against Leitrim-based side Manor Rangers, who are proven performers against the Galway team.
But a 60th-minute strike from Robert Connolly, who was named the side’s player of the year at Saturday’s club awards night, was eventually all that was needed.
And despite some desperate Rangers incursions in the dying stages, Mervue dug their heels in and clung on, luck also on their side after the visitors missed a first half penalty which could have made it a very different ball game.
The home side was well aware going into the game that their opponents were no easybeats, having suffered two Cup losses to them last season.
But Mervue was able to strike a double blow for the team which plays in the Sligo competition as it follows on from their dismissal from the FAI Cup last week at the hands of Strand Celtic.
Rangers had brought down a weakened and undermanned side compared to those which would have taken part in previous encounters, with just two men on the bench and up to six of the normal starting side not making the trip south.
Chances were few and far between in the opening exchanges, the first opportunity coming Mervue’s way in the seventh minute with two players achingly close to deflecting a Ger McGrath cross past Rangers ‘keeper Martin Cleary.
Midfielder Coley Kelly followed this up minutes later with a header that sailed just over the cross-bar and then took a long range free kick which also went too high.
Neither ‘keeper was really put under too much pressure as the half rolled on, until with 10 minutes left before the break McGrath was ruled to have handled the ball in the box during a Rangers free kick and referee Trevor Conlon pointed to the spot.
It proved the ultimate reprieve for the home side, though, when Rangers’ Brian McDonnell stepped up to face ‘keeper Trevor Garvey, but proceeded to knock it well wide of the right post as Mervue management breathed a sigh of relief on the sideline.
The scoreboard remained empty at the break and it was United who looked to be taking the initiative at the resumption.
Kelly took a free at the top corner of the box and attempted to play Darren Smith into position after seven minutes, but some good cover defence from Rangers halted the attack.
A corner ensued and McGrath almost deflected a header in at the far post but for some scrambling work by ‘keeper Martin Cleary, but Mervue continued to push the envelope as McGrath went close again, but was just out of position when Eamon Freeney crossed in from the right.
It was in the 60th minute that their efforts finally came to fruition through midfielder Connolly.
Aaron Finnerty took a free kick just inside the halfway line and curled it sweetly into the box at the far post, where Connolly tapped it off the outside of his right boot and past a diving Cleary.
It was not the signal for Rangers to lie down, though, conversely amping up their attack to try to find the equaliser and send the game into extra time.
John Sheerin’s header from a throw in went just over the bar, before Declan Sweeney only just failed to get a shot away from close range following some great lead-up work by Sheerin and Pat Sweeney.
Rangers fought to the death and in the final minute of play three Rangers players leapt high in the box towards a James Murray cross, but Garvey was on hand to punch it away to help hand Mervue their spot in the fourth round.
Mervue United: Trevor Garvey, Aaron Finnerty, Ger McGrath, Colin Lynskey, Colin O’Flaherty, Coley Kelly, Eamon Feeney (Eddie Lenihan, 82mins ), Robert Connolly, Dermot Ward, Emlyn Coyne (Gary O’Connor, 75mins ), Darren Smith (Shane Kelly, 71mins ).
Manor Rangers: Martin Cleary, Anthony McDonnell, Gary Hickey, Thom McDonald, Joe Kenney, Declan Sweeney, Paul Ferguson, John Sheerin (James Murray, 67mins ), Pat Sweeney, Brian McDonnell.
Referee: Trevor Conlon.
