Mervue United -v- Shelbourne

• Terry Flaherty
• Fri, Sep 09 2011


First Division leaders Shelbourne travel to the west coast on Friday evening to take on a Mervue Utd side who still have their sights on a top half finish with seven games remaining. Kick-off at Fahy’s Field is 7.45 p.m.

With Shels eight points clear at the summit of the First Division and the games beginning to run out as the season grinds to an end, they will look at this game as an opportunity to put another three points on the board and a step closer to silverware and Premier Division football next season. All the stats will point to an away win as Mervue have yet to take a single point off Shels since joining the league three seasons ago as Alan Mathews side have recorded eight straight wins in all league meetings to date with the Galway side.

Last weekend Shelbourne comfortably saw off a struggling Wexford Youths as two first half Philly Hughes goals and a late Sean Byrne strike secured an eighteenth win of the campaign. Johnny Glynn’s side produced a battling comeback last Saturday evening in Flancare Park as they came from two goals down to secure a 2-2 away draw against Longford Town as headers in either half from Pat Hoban and Damien O’Rourke levelled matters.

Shels manager Alan Mathews will have a full squad to pick from as David McGill remains the only long term injury absentee. For Mervue long term injuries continue to rule out Nicky Curran (knee), Tom King (knee) and goalkeeper TJ Forde (cruciate), while Jason Molloy (groin) and Mike Collins (ankle) will also miss out again. On the plus side Mark Ludden, Kevin Crehan, Peter Dravins and Brian O’Donoghue all return to the squad having missed last week’s draw in the midlands, while defender James Casserley could also return from a groin injury.

Mervue manager Johnny Glynn remains positive ahead of Friday’s visit of the league leaders “It is another big test for our young squad but these are the games the players look forward too. Shelbourne have proved to be a real top side this season and their league record speaks for itself with only two defeats all season but we will be looking to make that three and collect maximum points.”

Shels narrowly escaped out of Fahy’s Field earlier in the season with a 2-1 win as they withstood a late onslaught from the home team that night and had keeper Dean Delany to thank for their slender win as he claimed the man of the match award. The home team will be eager to finally take something from the league leaders as Shels remain the only side they have yet to secure a result against as they bid to halt a stat of eight straight wins by the Dublin side. Can that be tonight?

Mervue Utd United
Injured: Nicky Curran (knee), Tom King (cruciate), Jason Molloy (groin), Mike Collins (ankle), TJ Forde (knee)
Doubtful: James Casserley (groin)
Suspended: None

Shelbourne
Injured: David McGill
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

Referee: Phil Caschera (Kildare)

Paddy Power odds: Mervue Utd 8/1 Draw 7/2 Shelbourne 3/10

Extratime prediction: A 2-1 away win for Shels.