Siliverware Reward for Merville Under 14s

10/5/2019

Sligo Leitrim U14 Group A Cup Final: Arrow Harps 0 - 1 Merville United

Despite reaching the last 16 of the SFAI Cup and a Connacht Cup Final, silverware had escaped Merville United's under 14s this season, until last Wednesday's Sligo Leitrim Group A Cup Final.

An excellently worked second-half goal from Keelan Lynch was the difference between Merville and Arrow Harps in what was a perfect night for football at the Showgrounds.

Merville dominated possession for the majority of the game and created a number of chances that required Arrow Harp's 'keeper Brian Dwyer to keep the Sligo town side at bay.

Merville's pressure offered space for the Riverstown boys to capitalise upon and they duly did with winger PJ Scanlon keeping Merville's full-back Ronan O'Hehir, busy throughout the game.

Ronan Niland showed his class sliding passes from the middle of the park in behind the Arrow Harps defence but the Riverstown men held out until a moment of magic from Keelan Lynch in the second half.

Receiving the ball centrally, Lynch demonstrated excellent footwork to turn into space and leave his marker trailing. The midfielder's resulting shot from distance got the better of Brian Dwyer and would be enough to hand the cup to Merville.

Corey O'Dowd, in the Merville United goal, looked assured throughout and a save in the dying minutes of the game was the insurance Merville needed to claim a deserved league campaign.

Across the season, Merville's under 14s represented their club, community and League with distinction travelling to Waterford to defeat the highly rated Villa FC in the SFAI Cup last 32. From there, they hosted renowned Dublin School Boys side Belvedere in Merville with the visitors showing their class to progress to the quarter-finals of the national competition.

A special mention to coaches Eddie Mc Loughlin and David Adams who ensured this group of players could perform to their very best across the season. The coaching team bring unrivalled attention to detail and a wealth of experience that is visible in how this promising team play their football.