The Salthill Devon Under 15A team travelled to Mervue on a dull and overcast Saturday morning hoping to leave with three points and give the home side a reminder that this team will be serious contenders for all honours this season. Mervue settled first and seemed to have the upper hand for the first fifteen minutes however this was done without them troubling Kevin Horgan in goal. Mervue clearly had a taller and more physical team, however the Salthill midfield trio of Sean Kelly, Marcus McDonnacadh and Mike Costello got to grips with them in midfield and used their footballing brains to keep the ball in tight spaces and release full back Tommy McLean down the right wing and on a few occassions Josh Marvesly got in past the Mervue defence down the left side but some chances were missed or Salthill strikers were slow to shoot which allowed Mervue to get blocks in. Salthill's best chance of the half came from a superb Tommy McClean strike from long range which the Mervue Goalkeeper did well to tip onto the bar shortly before half time. Half Time 0-0.
Salthill lads came in at half time tired but were happy knowing they had settled down after a shaky start and had created more openings than Mervue. The Salthill Managment were happy with the fighting spirit showed by the lads but also had to remind them to beleive in themselves a lot more as some of the lads were playing within themselves and maybe felt intimidated by the more physical Mervue team. The referee blew the whistle to begin the second half and those who showed up to support these warriors were rewarded with a very exciting end to end football match, which both teams dominated at different stages.
Salthill counter attacked very well with outstanding interceptions and up field charges by left full Ben Brennan which stretched Mervue on a few occasions and gave all the Salthill lads a real lift. Salthills goal came from a great strike from around 30 yards from a free kick from Tommy McClean. Tommy's corners and free kicks were a real threat today and this particular strike was too powerful for the Mervue keeper to contain.
Mervue came at them in waves and this gave the Devon lads more chances to break up field, one such break ended with Ben Brennan ending up on the deck in the Mervue penalty area, no penalty given, great chance missed as Ben could have shot before any challenge was made. Mervue were reduced to ten men after a crazy lunge on Sean Kelly, Sean got up straight away but a lot of damage could have been inflicted, it was a blemish on an otherwise tough but fair match.
Mervue drew level after 3 or 4 Salthill players failed to put in a decent challenge on Conor Melody and he slotted home a low strike from the edge of the Salthill penalty box, the first goal conceeded by Devon in 3 matches to date. Salthill to their credit kept the heads up and saw out the final 5 mins with some good defending and a few breaks up field. The game ended 1-1, full credit goes to all Salthill players who played, they showed great fighting spirit, played some lovely football when it was possible and rose to every challenge. A well earned point, Tommy McClean, Dave O'Leary and all the parents who supported are very proud of all the squad today.