By Mike Rafferty

ON a weekend when almost the entire local soccer schedule was decimated by the Storm Bert red weather warning and the rainfall that followed, it is difficult to know if Moyne Villa holding second placed Mervue United to a draw for the second time this season is a positive or not as the Headford side threatened to cause a huge upset when they opened up a four goal lead with time running out.

You see, this Premier Division contest on Friday evening eventually finished level at 6-6 after 90 minutes of non stop action. The home side made the most of every opportunity that came their way and, in the process, were never headed, but still Moyne Villa must be sickened to have scored six against such illustrious competition and then gradually watch as they conceded four goals in the last 15 minutes and having to settle for a draw.

Moyne Villa were 2-0 up at the break. Dara Forde fired them ahead with a cracking finish, before Padraig Cunningham added a second close to the break after chasing a ball over the top and finishing past Tom Meehan. The visitors pulled one back quickly on the resumption as Aaron Neary scored.

The home side made it 3-1 when Aidan Coyne fired home a free kick, before Cunningham extended their advantage to 4-1. Neary got his second to make it 4-2, before Cunningham completed his hat trick for 5-2 as he slotted home three goals for the second game in succession. The contest looked to be done and dusted when Villa made it 6-2 as Coyle once more found the net against his former side.

From there to the finish, however, it was Mervue who did all the damage as they gradually wore down the home side. Jason Molloy was the provider as Dara McGrath headed home the third. Charlie Concannon was first to a rebound, after Mark O’Halloran was denied.

Conor Keady then headed in a Kody McCann cross to make it 6-5 and within a minute, matters were tied at 6-6 when Oisin Coyne set up Concannon for his second of the evening to complete a miracolous recovery for Mervue. The outcome allowed Salthill Devon remain clear at the top of the table, as Mervue remain second, while Moyne Villa are in fourth position.

One other game also beat the weather in the top flight with a Friday kick-off, as Athenry notched their first win in five games with a 2-1 victory over Hibernians. Now both sides, along with Renmore, were sharing the second from bottom position in the table before the game, but the Athenry victory has now moved them into the top half of the table.

It was Morgan Leggett who gave them an interval advantage when he was at the end of a set piece delivery, but Hibernians had a great opportunity to level matters when awarded a penalty, but for the second week in succession they were to miss from the spot as Nathan Ward had his effort saved by TJ Forde.

Athenry were to add a second goal in the latter stages when Cathal Fahy got the final touch to give them some breathing space against a City side who are really struggling, with one win from the opening nine games.

Pictured: Galway United’s Brendan Clarke who was chosen as the goalkeeper on the PFA Ireland Men’s Premier Division Team of the Year. Brendan is pictured with his award at the 2024 PFA Ireland Awards in the College Green Hotel in Dublin on Friday night.   Photo: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile