Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

TWO Galway League sides remain in the Connacht Junior Cup and tomorrow afternoon (Saturday, 4pm) in Fahy’s Field, Mervue United and Moyne Villa go head to head in the semi-final and the right to face either St John’s Athletic or the holders Castlebar Celtic in the final.

In a quirk of fate the same sides met in the Michael Byrne Cup semi-final in Headford last weekend with Villa emerging impressive 3-0 winners. It was just Mervue’s second defeat of the season, with their only previous setback coming in their FAI Junior Cup 1-0 away loss to Fairview Rangers.

The sides also met on two previous occasions in league action, drawing six all (yes 6-6) in Headford on an occasion when Mervue came from three down twice to eventually level matters. Matters also finished at 1-1 in an earlier meeting in the City.

Both sides are amongst the leading scorers in the local game and while Mervue have a bit more balance as they have not conceded as many, Moyne Villa stats in the league show just a plus two – as they have scored 43 and conceded 41.

While it also depends on the opposition, Villa have scored 17 goals in their last three games and conceded none. They are also the Connacht Shield holders following a final victory over Westport last season.

No doubt Mervue United will be missing the talents of Aaron Neary who is out for the rest of the season through injury, but the likes of Daniel Brennan, Dara McGrath, Kody McCann, Adam Healy and Oisin Coyne will have an opportunity to help secure a cup final place, as they also challenge on the league front.

On Sunday in Maree (2pm), Maree-Oranmore B and Corofin United meet in the semi-final of the Connacht Shield with the winners proceeding to face either Castlebar Celtic B or Iorras Aontaithe in the final.

Michael Byrne Cup

Moyne Villa and Hibernians will contest the Michael Byrne Cup final following wins in contrasting fashion in Saturday’s semi-finals. No doubt both games provided an element of surprise with Hibernians defeating  Athenry by 5-4 on penalties after the sides had finished level at 3-3 following extra time.

In a contest played in Bohermore, it was Athenry who appeared to be in control of their own destiny as goals by Declan Cullen and Ryan Corcoran each side of the break had them two up and in command of proceedings. However the game took a turn when Joe Hynes pulled one back when he converted a penalty and with time almost up, a Darren Moylan finish levelled matters at 2-2 and sent the contest to extra-time.

Once more it was Athenry who seized the initiative as Adam Duffy put them ahead, but for the second time in the game the City side struck for a late equaliser as Darcy Ngodjo tied up matters at 3-3. The penalty shoot-out saw just one miss as stand-in goalkeeper Nathan Ward had a comfortable save to make and it was Darren Moylan who slotted home the  winning spot kick to make it 5-4 and give Hibernmians a place in the Michael Byrne Cup final.

Without a doubt, the most impressive display of the weekend came from Moyne Villa as they defeated Mervue United by 3-0. Twice the sides had shared the spoils in league meetings, but on this occasion it was the home side who set the agenda as a two goal interval advantage was added to on the resumption to give them a comfortable margin of victory.

They took the lead on the half hour mark when Padraig Cunningham slotted home a loose ball in the box and in the last minute of the half they made it 2-0 when Darragh Forde finished a far post cross from Aidan Coyle. Though the contest remained competitive, it was Moyne Villa who added the third on 70 minutes when Adam Nugent applied the finish to a Cunningham lay off to kill off the game and set them up for a first ever Michael Byrne Cup final appearance.

Pictured: The Salthill Devon B squad after their victory over Galway Bohemians in the Jack Lillis Cup Final at Eamonn Deacy Park. Back row, left to right: Shane Cox, Johnny Burke, Darragh Costello, Enda Cullen, Mark Diskin, Joey Bradshaw, Richie Byrne, James Kelly, Piotrek Szymanski, Josh McGuire, Rueben Hickey, Sean Bracken, Gearóid O’Leidhinn, Jamie Greaney, and Gareth O’Gorman. Front row: Eugene Greaney, Ronan Greaney, Daniel Hoare, Jamie Allen, Dan Murphy, Josh Eastwood, Derek Flaherty and Killian Keady, Captain.