Mervue United 2 - 1 Salthill Devon

Gary Shanahan scored twice as Mervue United returned to winning form after two defeats to win the Galway city derby as Salthill Devon finished with ten men at Fahy's Field on Saturday evening.

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn made six changes to his side following last week's 3-0 defeat to Athlone Town, while John Brennan made just two enforced changes as Cian Fadden and top scorer Enda Curran returned.

A dour scoreless opening half saw half chances for the home side in the opening 20 minutes as Noel Varley and new signing Michael Duffy, twice, went close to opening the scoring.

Salthill’s Enda Curran should have done better when unmarked from a Derek O’Brien cross but he failed to hit the target with his header on 23 minutes, while Graham Kelly flashed an effort not far off target from 25 yards just past the half hour mark.

All the serious action of note took place in a livelier second period with three well taken goals, a sending off and a dramatic final 12 minutes. The home side almost hit the front straight after the resumption when Ryan Manning released Shanahan down the right and his cross picked out Duffy whose first time effort just cleared Ronan Forde’s crossbar.

They were in front soon after though when young Manning was once again dragged down by a Salthill defender, Michael McSweeney was alert with a quickly taken free-kick which found Shanahan free on the right of the box and he made no mistake firing into the far corner past Forde on 51 minutes.

Salthill’s Enda Curran saw red with 12 minutes remaining after a challenge on Mervue sub Joe Woods but three minutes later the side with ten men were level.

A long ball over the top from Colm Horgan caught the Mervue back four square and sub Oscar Sibanda raced onto the ball and chipped it over the advancing Conor O’Malley with nine minutes remaining. Sibanda had only transferred back to Salthill during the week from Mervue and it looked like he had rescued a point for Brennan’s side.

But the home side responded well to that setback and hit back within four minutes as debut man Duffy pulled a super ball back from the endline to find Shanahan and he fired into the far corner with a carbon copy of his first finish to make it 2-1 on 85 minutes for a goal that claimed a vital win for Glynn’s side.

Mervue hold onto the city bragging rights having now won both games 2-1 at Fahy’s Field this season and move back up to fourth place in the table. Salthill remain bottom and have lost further ground on Cobh who moved five points clear after Friday’s away draw with Finn Harps on Friday night.

Mervue Utd: Conor O’Malley; Michael McSweeney, Ross Kenny, Paul Sinnott (Joe Woods 66 inj), Marc Ludden; Gary Shanahan, Noel Varley, Gary Kelly (Gary Curran 79), Jason Molloy; Ryan Manning, Michael Duffy (Brendan Lavelle 86).

Subs not used: Alex Lee, Kenny Farrell, Michael James, Connor Gleeson (GK)

Booked – Jason Molloy 27, Gary Kelly 55.

Salthill Devon: Ronan Forde; Robbie Gaul, Evan Preston Kelly, Cian Fadden (Dan Cunningham 66), Colm Horgan; Jean Biansumba (Oscar Sibanda 60), Mixie Harty, Willie Enulebe (Craig Harding 75), Derek O’Brien; Enda Curran, Graham Kelly.

Subs not used: Danny Champion,Jason Murphy, Stephen Rudden, Shane O’Rourke.

Bookings: Jean Biansumba 14, Graham Kelly 58, Mike Harty 73.

Sent Off – Enda Curran 78

Referee: John McLoughlin (Midlands)

Attendance – 245

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Ross Kenny (Mervue Utd) Had the shackles on Salthill top scorer Enda Curran all evening.