Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty

UNTIL last weekend two teams were putting pressure on Premier Division leaders Salthill Devon and while the table toppers were comfortable winners on Saturday, it was Mervue United who have emerged as their closest challengers as they secured a late winner in a tight contest with third placed Colga.

Elsewhere in the top flight, three sides with an illustrious past are in the relegation zone as Hibernians, Renmore and Athenry all share a place above pointless Loughrea.

While Craughwell United continue to set the standard in the Championship, Corrib Rangers are on a five match unbeaten run and have moved to second in the table. Struggling West United also picked up a crucial three points with a win over Corofin United

In Division One, just four points separate the top four sides, with Salthill Devon B and Athenry B the weekend beneficiaries of full points with comfortable wins, while Division Two is equally competitive as five teams are within six points of one another as Kiltullagh, Moyne Villa B and Merlin Woods are the top three.

Premier Division

Mervue United  2

Colga  1

Unbeaten Mervue Utd had to work hard to maintain their second position in the Premier League as they survived some anxious moments and secured a late winner through Charlie Concannon in this meeting of two title chasers.

Both sides have come a long way following last season’s indifferent form and it was the visitors who offered the earliest scoring threat, hitting the woodwork on a number of occasions as Jamie Cummins, Ben Lalor and Calum Browne were all denied in a single attack.

Tom Daly had an effort taken off the line, while Neil Greaney was denied by a smart Tom Meehan save. With Oisin Coyne,  Luke O’Gorman and Aaron Neary to the fore, Mervue too had their moments as Neil Greaney was kept busy making saves from Adam Healy and Kody McCann, while Neary was just wide of the target with a low shot.

In McCann and Healy, Mervue have two wingers who are skillful, can go past people and ultimately deliver quality crosses and i took the home side some time before they got an opportunity to take advantage of their deliveries.

On 24 minutes, Healy laid a neat pull back into the path of Coyne and he crashed an effort from the edge of the box past Greaney. An impressive and young Colga side carried on as normal and within five minutes were back in the game when Daly was upended in the box and Neil Greaney duly tucked away the spot kick to tie up matters at 1-1.

They never threatened to build on that before the break as Mervue had efforts from Healy and Coyne saved by Greaney. Colga should have taken the lead four minutes after the restart when a smashing pass by Calum Browne released Daly, but Meehan advanced to deflect away his shot.

Pictured: University of Galway’s Caoilfhionn O’Dea on the ball against Moyne Villa’s Tomas Newell during the clubs’ Premier Division tie in Dangan on Saturday. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.