Salthill Devon emerged victorious in a playoff for the Andy King Under 16 league, when they defeated arch rivals Mervue United 3-2. The game played in Bohermore last Friday evening and it was the third time in as many weeks that these sides had locked horns, with the last league game ending 2-2, this playoff ensued and in between Mervue had beaten the Seasiders 3-0 in the Premier Cup Final.

Both sides were under strength, with Billy Lane confined to the bench for Mervue, and Jack Bradley and Eoin Walsh ruled out for Devon.

Despite the absence of these fine players both teams served up a feast of football, with the contest a real contrast in styles, with Mervue’s more direct approach favouring their pacy front men. Young Shane Keogh was the architect of most of Mervue’s play, whether from set pieces or from long diagonal balls from the back, and he gave Mervue the lead direct from a free kick in the 20th minute, only to see Ope Owuru equalise within a minute after fine inter play with Timmy Molloy and Eamon O’Donnell.

Just on half time James Casserley gave Mervue the lead when he volleyed home after Devon failed to clear a corner, and despite fine efforts from Curran and Heskin it remained 2-1 to Mervue at half time.

The second half was very much a mirror image of the first with Salthill’s measured play floundering on resolute defending, and with Gleeson the Mervue custodian in dominant form it took a piece of magic by Tony Ward to carve out an opening for Ope Owuru and when his shot was blocked by a defender O’Donnell bounced to smash home the equaliser.

Having grabbed the initiative Devon went in search of a winner and it came with eight minutes to go when Owuru was felled by Casserley as he chased a through ball and Ward dispatched the penalty with aplomb.

A fine win for this squad who have worked extremely hard over the season with Steve Haynes and John Mannion.