Mervue Utd's Junior A team secured all three points courtesy of Steve Larkin's late injury time winner after having let a 2-0 lead slip against Athenry at Fahy's Field on Saturday evening under lights.

Manager Gary O'Connor made wholesale changes to his side as only four players started from their previous game but all the changes didn't seem to unsettle his side as they raced into a 2-0 lead by the 19th minute before a second half comeback from the visitors saw them level matters for a frantic final twenty minutes.

The home side opened the scoring on 13 minutes following an excellent move down the right involving Seamie Crowe, Steve Larkin and Dan Tuck with the winger setting up an unmarked Dara Ryan in the box and he made no mistake controlling the ball and firing home for 1-0.

Six minutes later it was 2-0 as Eric Browne powerfully headed home Seamie Crowe's free-kick delivery from the right.

It looked like an easy home win at that stage but Athenry's young side continued to battle and were rewarded after the break as Cathal Fahy fired a smashing free-kick past Andrew Walsh to reduce it back to 2-1.

Mervue introduced Steve Cunningham, Barry Moran and Derek McWalter from the bench as they looked to get back on top. Cunningham's pace down the right saw him set up Larkin but the striker fired high and over when he should have made it 3-1.

Athenry attacked up the other end and Andrew Walsh pulled off a fine save to deny Fahy at the expense of a corner, which when delivered was not cleared and Mark Lawless got the touch to bundle the ball home for 2-2 on 73 minutes.

Cunningham then headed a great chance over when unmarked at the back post and Barry Moran had another effort well saved as the home side piled on the pressure to get back in front.

With a draw on the cards moving into added time, Cunningham's pace saw him burst past two defenders before being hauled down on the edge of the box, ref PJ Norman initially pointed to the penalty spot but then awarded a free-kick after consulting with assistant Patsy Forde.

From that free-kick Crowe delivered another dangerous ball into the box which Athenry failed to clear and eventually Steve Larkin fired the loose ball to the net for a late late winner.

Mervue Utd; A Walsh, D Dowling, E Cullen, T Walsh, E Browne; E O'Boyle (S Cunningham), S Crowe, B McEntee (D McWalter), D Tuck; S Larkin, D Ryan (B Moran).