Mervue Utd Weekly News

It was a mixed weekend for the club’s U-12 and U-14 teams in their SFAI quarter finals last Saturday and Sunday. The U-14’s advanced to the national semi-final following last Sunday's excellent 2-0 away win over Killorglin FC in Kerry in their quarter final, while the U-12's bowed out in Dublin and the Junior A team recorded a top of the table win over Athenry. 

UNDER 14

Goals from Conor Shaughnessy and Colin Kelly in either half ensured Coley Kelly and Pa Connell's U-14 side advanced to the last four in the national cup. They have been rewarded with a home draw against Dublin side, Belvedere FC, in the semi-final which will be played on Saturday 18th April. They will be looking to advance to the national final in a cup Mervue Utd last won in 2006. That winning side featured current Irish senior international Greg Cunningham (Bristol City) and Stephen Folan (Sligo Rovers). The club also reached the final last season only to lose out to St Francis in last May's decider in Dublin.They can also look forward to a big finish to the season having also qualified for the Connacht Cup final and currently lead the Coley Smyth U-14 Premier Division table by eight points as they remain undefeated all season.

UNDER 12

The U-12 team suffered their first defeat of the season as they went down 3-1 away to top Dublin schoolboys side, Crumlin Utd, in their SFAI Cup quarter final in Pearse Park last Saturday afternoon. Despite taking a ninth minute lead through Tom Kidd, the home side were level from a free-kick just before half time and were in front two minutes into the second half following another free-kick. Eric Connolly and Owen Shaughnessy’s side gave it everything in the second period to level matters but a well organised Dublin side gave very little away and scored again with the last kick of the game to make it 3-1. Mervue had star performers on the day in goalkeeper James Egan, Gary Higgins, Ben Stanik, Tom Kidd and Calum Carroll. They can now look forward to a Connacht Final with Westport Utd and are currently leading the Premier Division after ten games.

JUNIOR A

The club’s Junior A team put in one of their best performances of the season as they recorded a 3-0 win over second place Athenry in last Sunday morning Premier Division top of the table game at Fahy’s Field. Two first half goals from Alex Lee had the home side 2-0 in front at the interval and when Barry Moran added a third goal just after the break the result was never in doubt as they moved three points clear at the top of the table. This weekend they host Mayo Side, Ballyheane FC, in the last sixteen Connacht Junior Cup game at Fahy’s Field this Sunday at 12.30 pm.

UNDER 19

The club’s U-19 team suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to Wexford Youths last Sunday afternoon. Brian Laffey’s side will travel to Tallaght Stadium to face Shanrock Rovers this Saturday afternoon in their final league game of the season.

ROOTS ACADEMY

Our U7/8's from our Friday night Roots Academy will travel to Salthill Devon's home ground in Drom on Saturday morning for a blitz with Devon's Nippers Academy teams at 9.30 am until 11 am.