Mervue suffer more late agony
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DISAPPOINTMENT will always define a loss, but the hurt cuts a whole lot deeper when the agony arrives in the dying stages of a long and hard-fought contest.
Mervue manager Johnny Glynn cast a down-beat figure after an 87th minute Shelbourne goal sunk his side’s hopes of clinching a draw against the competition joint-leaders at Terryland Park last night. Conor Gethin's late dagger had punctured Mervue's hopes two weeks ago, and Kevin Doherty’s header from a corner with three minutes left came after the home side had managed to fend off pounding waves of pressure for a large portion of the contest.
“It was really disappointing with the amount of defending we had to do,” Glynn said.
“I thought we defended very well. There was so much pressure to hold a team like Shelbourne, but we’ve done very well. They were the far better football side tonight, but we were battling and we were battling hard and we’re going to have to do that all season.
Shelbourne can now boast five straight wins, sitting in second spot on the ladder behind UCD who had a much easier task against luckless Kildare County on the other side of the country. Shelbourne’s goal difference could well have been made a whole lot better had the number of opportunities they had been converted into goals, but will be more than content with the late and well-earned goal, Glynn admitting he thought they would go unrewarded for their efforts until the winner was struck.
“It looked like one of those nights where Shelbourne played well, but we defended well as well,” he said. "It looked like they weren’t going to score tonight and go away disappointed, even though they played well, put us under a lot of pressure and then just haven’t managed to score. Having said that I’m very pleased with the back and the improvements that were shown.”
How this result affects the psyche of the Mervue squad for what should be a very winnable affair against last-placed Kildare next Friday is yet to be determined. The Galway club will return to the ground where they scored the win that rocketed them into the First Division last year.
“We have Kildare next Friday night and that will be a huge match for us. We have four points, they have one, we’ll be going there to battle,” Glynn said.
“That’s going to be a huge battle for us next week and that’ll be the key for us, will be getting the heads right for next week. We’re boosting our confidence, we’re improving our play, but if we don’t battle next round we’ll be in a lot of trouble, so that’ll be the key for the week for us.”
Striker Dave Goldbey will be a notable absence next week, Glynn estimating he will out for up to three weeks after spraining his ankle and coming off after 28 minutes last night. Nicky Curran also had to retire hurt, but was just suffering from calf cramp in his first game back after injury.
Mervue manager Johnny Glynn cast a down-beat figure after an 87th minute Shelbourne goal sunk his side’s hopes of clinching a draw against the competition joint-leaders at Terryland Park last night. Conor Gethin's late dagger had punctured Mervue's hopes two weeks ago, and Kevin Doherty’s header from a corner with three minutes left came after the home side had managed to fend off pounding waves of pressure for a large portion of the contest.
“It was really disappointing with the amount of defending we had to do,” Glynn said.
“I thought we defended very well. There was so much pressure to hold a team like Shelbourne, but we’ve done very well. They were the far better football side tonight, but we were battling and we were battling hard and we’re going to have to do that all season.
Shelbourne can now boast five straight wins, sitting in second spot on the ladder behind UCD who had a much easier task against luckless Kildare County on the other side of the country. Shelbourne’s goal difference could well have been made a whole lot better had the number of opportunities they had been converted into goals, but will be more than content with the late and well-earned goal, Glynn admitting he thought they would go unrewarded for their efforts until the winner was struck.
“It looked like one of those nights where Shelbourne played well, but we defended well as well,” he said. "It looked like they weren’t going to score tonight and go away disappointed, even though they played well, put us under a lot of pressure and then just haven’t managed to score. Having said that I’m very pleased with the back and the improvements that were shown.”
How this result affects the psyche of the Mervue squad for what should be a very winnable affair against last-placed Kildare next Friday is yet to be determined. The Galway club will return to the ground where they scored the win that rocketed them into the First Division last year.
“We have Kildare next Friday night and that will be a huge match for us. We have four points, they have one, we’ll be going there to battle,” Glynn said.
“That’s going to be a huge battle for us next week and that’ll be the key for us, will be getting the heads right for next week. We’re boosting our confidence, we’re improving our play, but if we don’t battle next round we’ll be in a lot of trouble, so that’ll be the key for the week for us.”
Striker Dave Goldbey will be a notable absence next week, Glynn estimating he will out for up to three weeks after spraining his ankle and coming off after 28 minutes last night. Nicky Curran also had to retire hurt, but was just suffering from calf cramp in his first game back after injury.
