Mervue Utd Under 19's advanced to the second round of the Airtricity Enda McGuill Cup following a comfortable 4-1 win over a spirited Galway Utd side at Fahy's Field on Tuesday night.

Billy Lane turned in a man of the match performance as he bagged himself a hat-trick as he was a handful all night for the visitors back four with his pace and movement. The home side led 2-0 at the break courtesy of two excellent finishes from the star-man.

Mervue started brightly and were in front on 12 minutes after Conor Byrne's excellent delivery from the right was brilliantly volleyed home inside the box by Lane for 1-0. He doubled his tally on the half hour mark when once again Byrne provided the delivery from a corner on the right was powerfully headed home by the striker into the corner.

The home side created a couple of more chances before the break as Brian Connolly, Jamie Fallon and Lane all went close with efforts as the half ended 2-0 to the home side.

Credit to the visitors they came out in the second half and were more competitive and were rewarded with a goal eight minutes after the break. Mervue conceded a corner on the right which was flicked on at the near post and Patrick Hogan was on hand to steer the ball to the net past Cillian Murphy for 2-1.

The home eventually upped their game after the hour mark and Galway Utd keeper Dennis Brosnan denied Fallon with an excellent save, while Lane should have completed his hat-trick when his blistering pace sent him clear but with just the keeper to beat he blasted his effort wide of the mark.

Not to be denied Lane completed his hat-trick on 65 minutes firing home from the spot after being taken down in the box by Brosnan. Mervue introduced Shane Keogh and Richard Fahy for the final quarter and it was the former who added the fourth on 76 minutes.

A flowing move down the right wing saw Lane and Fallon swap passes before the latter sent a dangerous ball to the back post which Ciaran Fahy headed against the post but Keogh was on hand to fire home the loose ball from close range to make it 4-1.

The visitors were reduced to ten men just before the final whistle but it matter little as Brendan O'Connor side advanced to a home tie with city rivals Salthill Devon next Tuesday night at Fahy's Field.

Mervue Utd - Cillian Murphy, Andy Higgins, Ryan Ludden, Andrew Daniel, Padraig Keane, Ciaran Fahy, Conor Byrne, Ian Bately, Jamie Fallon, Billy Lane, Brian Connolly

Subs - Shane Keogh for Brian Connolly (69 mins), Richard Fahy for Ian Bately (74 mins), Mark Gibbons for Jamie Fallon (80 mins)

Referee - Conor Fitzgerald