Mervue United -v- Shelbourne FC

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Jul 24 2010


Mervue Utd entertain a Shelbourne side that have only lost once in their last eight league and cup games with kick-off at the earlier time of 7 p.m. at Terryland Park on Saturday evening.

That loss was last time out against Derry City as the league leaders came from a goal down to beat Shels last Friday night. Mervue also suffered a disappointing defeat at the hands of local rivals Salthill Devon in the big Galway City derby game last Saturday evening going down 2-0.

Both sides will be looking to get back to winnings ways following those defeats last weekend and will hope to bounce back to form on Saturday evening. Mervue’s record against their Dublin opponents is not good having met four times since their arrival in the League of Ireland they have tasted defeat in all four at the hands of Shels.

New Shels manager Alan Mathews will surely be looking at this game as an opportunity for his new side to re-launch their promotion bid as they lie just seven points behind second placed Monaghan Utd. But they will not treat this Mervue side lightly, as their home form has seen them quite hard to beat in Terryland Park, with both Derry City and Waterford Utd lucky to escape from the Dyke Road with all three points after narrow wins.

Mervue will go into the game with almost a full strength squad to choose from after their friendly run out against English league two side Port Vale were Tom French fielded two different teams in either half in the 1-0 defeat. Defender Kenny Farrell was stretchered off in the second half of that game with a bad knee injury and will miss out.

Shelbourne will be without Gareth Whelan as he serves a one game suspension for four yellow cards, while definitely out also are Eric Foley (hamstring) and Paul Shiels (hamstring) while Mark Hughes is doubtful.

Last season’s two games in Terryland Park between the sides proved to be two very good games of football with Shels escaping with a late 1-0 win in the first courtesy of a 87th minute Kevin Doherty header.

In the second game Shelbourne eventually overcame a Mervue side that basically shot themselves in the foot having led twice in the game, but then did themselves no favours having two players sent off before conceding two own goals into the bargain in a highly entertaining game last September.

Another entertaining game in prospect at Terryland Park between two sides that like to pass the ball on the ground.