Mervue United -V- Wexford Youths

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Sep 04 2010


Mervue United will hope to end a seven match losing streak when they host Wexford Youths, a team they have yet to record a win over in the First Division, at Terryland Park on Saturday evening (kick-off 7 pm).

Tom French’s side badly need to halt their current run of bad results and put some much needed points on the board as Galway City rivals, Salthill Devon, have closed to within a point of them at the lower end of the First Division table.

Salthill’s loss to Shelbourne last night will see the home side move four points clear of the bottom club if they can record their first win since early July this evening. They will have to do it though without their experienced midfielder, Mike Tierney, who looks like missing the rest of the season following an ankle and shin injury sustained in training last week.

Wexford are also looking to register their first win in five games as their last win was an exciting 5-3 win over high flying Limerick FC in mid July, but they have drawn two of those five games in between.

Noel O’Connor will welcome back Shane Dempsey from suspension for tonight’s game while Chris Kenny, Danny Furlong, Gareth McCurtin and Shane Sinnott should also return having missed the 1-1 draw with Shelbourne.

For the home side Enda Curran will miss out through suspension but his brother Nicky should return, which would be a boost to the home sides chances. Also missing is Tommy Walsh, Evan Connolly and Kenny Farrell who is out with a long term injury, but Dan Cunningham could return to the squad following his recent run out with the under 20 side.

Both sides have had a two week break since their last games due to the fourth round of the FAI Cup. There has never been more than a goal between these two sides in the five games played in the First Division to date. Wexford do hold the upper hand having won three of those games (two 1-0 wins) and both games this season, so they will be looking to do the treble for the season over their hosts tonight. Last season also saw two scoreless draws between the sides.

Since the sides last met both club’s have seen youngsters Pat Hoban (Mervue) and Jimmy Keohane (Wexford) sign for Championship side Bristol City were both have been given one year contracts with the English side.

Extratime.ie Prediction: A badly needed 2-1 home win.