Mervue Utd 4-1 Longford Town (Sunday 13th January'13)

A hat-trick from Ryan Manning and a free-kick from Dillon Murphy secured a 4-1 win over Longford Town at Fahy's Field on Sunday afternoon.

The home side took the lead on 19 minutes when Ryan Manning forced home the opening score at the near post following a Eoghan Walsh ball from the left.

Just prior to that James Healy had denied Longford's Boni Adoemene with an amazing save from the strikers header which look destined for the top corner until Healy somehow stretched to tip the ball onto the crossbar before Eric Neary cleared the danger.

Mervue doubled their advantage on 31 minutes when visiting keeper Dave McNamara was punished for handling outside the box and Dillon Murphy struck a low effort past the Longford wall and into the bottom corner.

The visitors reduced the deficit back to 2-1 when winger Mike James did well down the left wing before cutting in and firing a shot in off the far post. The home team responded immediately as Manning finished off the move of the game.

Cathal Regan won the ball back and fed Eoghan Walsh whose cross to the back post found Dillon Murphy who returned the ball to Richard Fahy to head the ball into the path of Manning and he applied the finish past McNamara for 3-1 five minutes before the break.

Ryan Carberry hit the side netting ten minutes after the break for Longford, while Manning shot straight at McNamara at the other end. With twelve minutes remaining Manning struck the post with another well taken free-kick and then hit the side netting with another effort.

Manning completed his hat-trick on 84 minutes when he struck another free-kick over the Longford wall and into the top corner giving McNamara no chance.

He nearly added a fourth a minute later after playing a lovely one two with sub Evan Boyce but McNamara was equal to his effort this time saving well.

Galway Utd Supporters Trust FC 1-2 Mervue Utd (7th December 2012)

The club's Under 19's recorded a hard earned 2-1 win over Galway Utd Supporters Trust FC at a very cold but dry Eamonn Deacy Park on Friday night.

The opening half failed to produce a goal despite Mervue creating some decent chances but Aidan O'Sullivan failed to convert a couple, while he also headed a great chance just over and Richard Fahy Fahy also headed a Mark Gibbons cross just over as the half finished scoreless.

It only took three minutes of the second half for the visitors to finally open the scoring when Cathal O'Regan finished low into the bottom corner past Seamus Curry as he met a Gibbons ball following a quick throw from Eric Neary.

Curry then palmed away a Thomas Gleeson well struck effort for a corner on 57 minutes. Aaron McDonagh replaced Mark Gibbons on the hour mark as Justin Neary's side looked to increased their advantage against a very hard working home side.

But it was the hosts who levelled matters on 67 minutes as Brian Duhan tucked the ball past James Healy for 1-1 after the Mervue defence failed to clear a ball into the box.

A minute later Curry was on hand again to tip a Richard Fahy effort over his crossbar for a corner, while Aaron McDonagh saw his effort come back off the crossbar as Mervue looked to regain the lead.

That they finally did with just eight minutes left and it was Richard Fahy who was once again central to creating the opening as he played a lovely ball through the middle for Aidan O'Sullivan to run onto and he slid the ball past the advancing Curry into the far corner for a deserved winner.

Mervue had a couple of late chances to double that lead but Curry produced some good stops, while at the other end the home side had a goal disallowed for hand ball by Emmanuel Obadent.

Neary's side now face an away game with league leaders Athlone Town next Saturday afternoon.

Mervue United: James Healy, Eric Neary, John Rattigan, Padraig Keane, Luke Tully; Eoghan Walsh, Richard Fahy (capt), Cathal O'Regan, Mark Gibbons (Aaron McDonagh 59); Thomas Gleeson and Aidan O'Sullivan.

Wexford Youths 2-3 Mervue Utd (24th November 2012)

The club's under 19 side got back to winning ways with a 3-2 away win over Wexford Youths at a very wet Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford on Saturday afternoon.

All five goals in the game arrived in the opening 25 minutes as Aidan O'Sullivan opened the scoring to give Justin Neary's side an early lead. Richard Fahy doubled the lead before the home side pulled a goal back to make it 2-1.

Aidan O'Sullivan restored the two goal lead with his second of the game but Mick Wallace's side reduced it back to the minimum once again before the game had reached the half hour mark.

Amazingly after that goal packed opening quarter there was to be no further goals despite Wexford second half pressure but Mervue defended well and goalkeeper James Healy dealt comfortably with everything that came his way to secure all three points.

Mervue United: James Healy, Eric Neary, Shane McNamara, Padraig Keane, Luke Tully; Eoghan Walsh (John Rhattigan 60), Richard Fahy (capt), Cathal O'Regan (Thomas Gleeson 46), Mark Gibbons; Dillon Murphy and Aidan O'Sullivan.

Mervue Utd 1-3 Limerick FC (10th Nov 2012)

The club's Under 19's suffered a second defeat of the season at the hands of Limerick following a 3-1 loss at Fahy's Field on Saturday afternoon.

The visitors scored twice in the opening half as goals from winger Gavin Dillon and Darragh Rainsford gave them a 2-0 interval lead.

The openning goal came in the 25th minute when Limerick's Gavin Dillon popped up in penalty area and he calmly controlled the ball and curled his shot around Connor O'Malley from a very acute angle for a 1-0 lead.

The lead was extended on 31 minutes when good pressure in the attacking third of the pitch saw Limerick's Darragh Rainsford receive the ball from Colm Murray, Rainsford passed to Kieron Hanlon who shielded the ball well before threading a sublime pass in to the path of Rainsford who made no mistake with a shot past O'Malley.

Aidan O'Sullivan went very close after the break when his shot flashed across the face of the goal and just wide of the far post. Aaron McDonagh did reduced the deficit back to the minimum on the hour mark as he volleyed home into the bottom corner.

But Limerick ensured all three points when Walsh collect a corner in a crowded area and he released Darragh Rainsford on a counter attack and his intelligent pass found the unmarked Kieron Hanlon who attacked the space in front of him to slot home the third goal in to the bottom corner on the 70th minute.

Next up is a break from league action as the club travel to Sligo Rovers next Saturday afternoon in the second round of the Airtricity Enda McGuill Cup.

Mervue United: Conor O'Malley, Eric Neary, Shane McNamara, Padraig Keane, Dylan Thornton (capt), Luke Tully, Eoghan Walsh, Richard Fahy, Dillon Murphy, Aidan O'Sullivan, Aaron McDonagh. Subs: Thomas Gleeson, John Rattigan, Moise Assogba, Evan Brown, Evan Boyce, Cathal O'Reagan and James Healy

Limerick FC: Stephen Walsh, Colm Murray, Anthony O'Donnell, Sean O'Callaghan, Gavin Whyte, A.J O'Connor, Gavin Dillon, Natahn Kelly, Kieran Hanlon, Darragh Rainsford and Reece Healy. Subs: Ross Mann, Ronan Coughlan, Dean Coughlan, Tino Nzvaura, Tony Whitehead, Shane Costello and Nathan Murray.

Referee: Declan Tolan (Athlone)

Longford Town 0-2 Mervue Utd (3rd Nov 2012)
Goals in either half from Richard Fahy and Aaron McDonagh ensure a good away win in Flancare Park on Saturday afternoon.

Richard Fahy headed home an Eoghan Walsh delivery in the opening half to give Mervue a 1-0 interval lead.

The lead was doubled after the break when Aaron McDonagh scored direct from a corner kick as the ball sailed in over everybody into the net. Aiden O'Sullivan should have made it 3-0 before the end but he missed a great opportunity.

Airtricity Under 19 League, Saturday 8th September

Mervue Utd's Under 19 team came from behind twice before eventually running out 4-2 winners over Longford Town after they put in an excellent second half display at Fahy's Field on Saturday afternoon.

Man of the match Ryan Manning notched a hat-trick and then set up Dillon Murphy for the fourth as Justin Neary and Colin Nolan's side recorded a second successive league win.

It all started badly as the visitors hit the front after just three minutes when Longford's Alex Kenny picked up a loose clearance and fired the ball past James Healy for opening score. The home side were back level by the half hour mark when Ryan Manning was taken down in the box and he picked himself up and placed the spot kick past Longford keeper Dave McNamara for 1-1.

Mervue should have been in front two minutes before the break when some very good play ended with Eoghan Walsh's effort from close range brilliantly blocked by McNamara when a goal looked certain.

A minute after the re-start and Manning went agonisingly close to giving the home side the lead after he race through on goals and slipped the ball past the advancing McNamara but just the wrong side of the post.

Mervue were well in control of the game at this stage and continued to look for a second goal with Luke Tully and Richard Fahy winning the midfield battle and Dillon Murphy and Manning linking up well in attack. Fahy headed a couple of efforts wide of the mark and Manning and Murphy were unlucky with efforts as it looked only a matter of time before the home side hit the front.

But Longford had other ideas and they regained the lead against the run of play on 70 minutes when Alex Kenny did well after the Mervue defence failed to clear the ball from a free-kick and the striker was on hand to beat Healy for the second time with a shot into the far corner for 2-1.

Mervue responded immediately as another excellent move down the left saw Aaron McDonagh pick out Manning who made no mistake heading the equaliser past McNamara within a minute of going behind.

The home side upped their game once again and Murphy forced another good save from McNamara two minutes later before they eventually took a deserved lead. Richard Fahy started the move with two excellent touches in midfield before spreading the ball out wide to Eoghan Walsh whose cross found Manning in the box and he applied the required finish past McNamara to secured the match ball on 79 minutes.

Mervue continue to attack and the fourth goal did arrive with two minutes remaining as Manning was once again involved as his run along the end line and pull back set up strike partner Murphy who drilled a low effort past McNamara for 4-2.

Next up is an away game with Limerick FC next Sunday afternoon in Limerick as Justin Neary and Colin Nolan's side will look to make it three wins from three league games.

Mervue Utd: James Healy, Eric Neary, Shane McNamara (Sergio Nkolovata 46 inj), Padraic Keane, Dylan Thornton (capt); Eoghan Walsh, Luke Tully, Richard Fahy, Aaron McDonagh (Moise Assogba 81); Dillon Murphy and Ryan Manning (Mark Gibbons 88). Subs not used; Evan Boyce, Daniel Lenihan, Cian McDonnell and Aiden O'Sullivan.

Longford Town: Dave MaNamara, Rory Carbery, Cormac Kenny, Paul Rush, Dave Mackey, Aaron Brilly, Dean Cosgrove (Kieran McNamara 61), Mike James (Patrick Clinton 75), Brian McNamara (Mark Rossiter 56), Alex Kenny and Ryan Carbery

Referee: Brian Lynch (Galway)

Galway Utd ST FC 1-3 Mervue Utd

Airtricity Under 19 League, Saturday 1st September

Mervue Utd's Under 19 side began their Airtricity League campaign with a 3-1 derby win over GUST FC at a very wet and miserable Eamonn Deacy Park on Saturday night.

All the goals came in an action packed first half with Mervue scoring twice inside the opening 13 minutes to race into a 2-0 lead. Aidan O'Sullivan shot wide from a good position after just three minutes but four minutes later and the visitors were in front.

Dillon Murphy won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Richard Fahy stepped up and drove the dead ball around the wall and into the bottom corner for 1-0.

That lead was doubled on 13 minutes when Murphy ran onto a ball over the top from fullback Shane McNamara before rounding home keeper Ciaran MacMathuna and slotting home number two into the empty net.

The home side reduced the margin back to the minimum on 36 minutes when centre back Finn O'Reilly powerfully headed into the top corner from a free-kick. But just five minutes later and Mervue had restored their two goal lead following some good play from Justin Neary's side.

New signing Aidan O'Sullivan marked his debut with his first goal for the club finishing off the move with a shot into the far corner for a 3-1 interval lead.

After the break Luke Tully played a smart ball through for O'Sullivan to run onto but his finish didn't match the pass as he pulled his shot too high and over the crossbar.

Mervue goalkeeper James Healy maintained his side's two goal lead when he denied Darragh Kelly with a brilliant save from point blank range on 67 minutes.

Shane McNamara then saw a cross cum shot hit the top of the crossbar, while Richard Fahy saw his on target header from Aaron McDonogh's left wing cross tipped over the crossbar by MacMathuna on 74 minutes.

At the other end a good move by the home side ended with sub Dean Tierney firing a shot just wide. With nine minutes remaining another good delivery by Aaron McDonagh picked out sub Ryan Manning, who had just returned from a two week trial with Ispwich Town, but his header was straight at MacMathuna.

Mervue's final chance saw Shane McNamara head a Ryan Manning corner kick delivery over the home teams crossbar but all three points had been secured courtesy of those three first half strikes.Next up is a home tie with Longford Town at Fahy's Field next Saturday afternoon at 2.30 p.m.

Mervue Utd: James Healy, Eric Neary, Shane McNamara, Padraic Keane, Dylan Thornton (capt); Eoghan Walsh (Mark Gibbons 87), Luke Tully, Richard Fahy, Aaron McDonagh; Dillon Murphy (Evan Boyce 83) and Aidan O'Sullivan (Ryan Manning 62).

GUST FC: Ciaran MacMathuna, Corey Bond, Conor Lally, Gabriel Darcy (capt), Finn O'Reilly; Malachy Black (Rikki Graham 57), Luke Deacy (Kennedy Boauhe-Ansah 81), Junior Iyawe (Dean Tierney), Morgan Lyons; Darragh Kelly and Patrick Madden.

Referee: Trevor Conlon