Mervue United A.F.C.

Mervue United

Full name	Mervue United Association Football Club
Founded	1960
Ground	Fahy's Field Terryland Park
League	Galway & District League League of Ireland First Division A Championship League of Ireland U21 Division Connacht Senior League
Website	http://www.mervueunited.com
Home colours Away colours

Mervue United A.F.C. is an Irish association football club based in Mervue, Galway. Their senior men's team currently plays in the Galway & District League. The club has previously fielded teams in the Connacht Senior League, the League of Ireland U21 Division, the A Championship and the League of Ireland First Division.

History

Early years

Mervue United was formed in 1960 by a group of residents in the McDonagh Avenue area of Mervue, Galway.^[1] In 1964–65 the club won its first trophy, the Murphy Cup, a competition for under–13 boys teams. By the early 1970s Mervue United were playing in the Galway & District League and in 1972–73 they won promotion to the league's Premier division. They subsequently began to regularly win the league's two league cups, the Joe Ryan Cup and the Lillis Cup. In 1976–77 they also won a Galway & District League and Michael Byrne Cup double. By 1980 the Mervue United B team had also gained promotion to the Premier Division. However Galway Football Association rules insisted that two teams from the same club could not play in the same division. As a result, Mervue Celtic was founded as a separate club and, like United, they also found success in the Joe Ryan Cup and the Lillis Cup competitions. In 1981–82 they also won the Galway area FAI Junior Cup competition.^[2][3]

Connacht Senior League

Between 1981 and 2000 Mervue United played in the Connacht Senior League. In 1981–82, together with Sligo Rovers Reserves, Castlerea Celtic, Salthill Devon, Ballina Rovers, Tuam Celtic and UCG, Mervue United became founder members of the CSL. In its first season Mervue United finished as runners-up behind Sligo Rovers. They also won a league cup double, winning both the Connacht Senior League Cup and the Connacht Senior League Challenge Cup. Mervue United won the league for the first time in 1982–83 and subsequently went on to become one of the league's most successful teams, winning the title eight times. In 1982–83 and 1983–84 they completed two successive trebles winning the league title, the Challenge Cup and the Connacht Senior Cup. In 1992–93 they went one better and won a quartet of trophies, winning the league title, the Connacht Senior League Shield, Connacht Senior Cup and the Challenge Cup. Between 1996 and 1997 and 1999–2000 Mervue United were also Connacht Senior League champions four times in a row. In 1999–2000 Mervue United completed another treble by also winning the League Cup and the Challenge Cup.^[2][4][5] In 1984–85 Mervue United first came to national prominence when they became the first CSL club to take part in the FAI Cup, losing 2–1 in the first round to the holders, UCD. In the 1986–87 FAI Cup they defeated Longford Town 1–0 in the first round but got knocked out by Rockmount in the next round. In 1997–98 Mervue United made a third appearance in the FAI Cup but were knocked out in the first round after a replay by Sligo Rovers. As Connacht Senior League champions, United were also invited to play in the League of Ireland Cup.^[4][5][6][7]

National leagues

In 2008, together with local rivals, Salthill Devon, Mervue United were founder members of the A Championship. As the highest placed non-reserve team in the league's inaugural season, Mervue United qualified for a relegation/promotion play-off. They subsequently defeated Kildare County 5–3 on aggregate and were promoted to the League of Ireland First Division.^[8] Between 2009 and 2013 Mervue United played in the League of Ireland First Division. In their final season they finished third before losing a relegation/promotion play-off against Longford Town.

Galway United

In 2012 an FAI commissioned report recommended that Galway city and County Galway should be represented in the League of Ireland by a single club or team based at Eamonn Deacy Park. The O'Connor Report also recommended that the Galway Football Association, the Galway United Supporters Trust, Salthill Devon and Mervue United should work together to form such a club.^[9] Following the conclusion of the 2013 season, both Mervue United and Salthill Devon withdrew from the League of Ireland First Division to make way for a reformed Galway United. The new board of Galway United featured two Mervue United representatives, Donnie Farragher and Declan McDonnell.^[10][11][12] The O'Connor Report had also recommended reforming the Connacht Senior League, allowing Mervue United and Salthill Devon to play at a provincial level.^[13] However, in June 2013 the Connacht Tribune reported that the plans for a reformed CSL were shelved due to a lack of sufficient interest from the clubs.^[14] The senior teams of Mervue United and Salthill Devon subsequently joined the Galway & District League.

Ground

Mervue United originally operated out of the Redemptorist Grounds before moving to Monivea Road were they shared facilities with Mervue Athletic Club. After joining the Connacht Senior League, the club secured a lease on a clubhouse and a pitch in Fahy's Field. This has remained the club's principal home ground ever since.^[3] During the 2009 and 2010 seasons when they were playing in the League of Ireland First Division, Mervue played at Terryland Park as Fahy's Field did not meet League of Ireland standards. The move away from their Mervue fan base affected attendances to the degree that they were the lowest in league records. In early 2011 Fahy's Field was upgraded with fencing and turnstiles been added, allowing Mervue United to play their later League of Ireland games there.^[10][15]

Notable former players

Republic of Ireland international

• Aaron Connolly
• Greg Cunningham
• Ryan Manning

Republic of Ireland U21 internationals

• Séamus Conneely
• Conor Shaughnessy
• Joe Shaughnessy

Republic of Ireland Schools U15 internationals

• Rola Olusola
• Isabelle Fitzpatrick
• Jessica Talbot
• Abbie Duffy

Republic of Ireland U15 internationals

• Samuel O'Gorman
• Hakeem Ryan

Republic of Ireland Women's U16 internationals

• Eve Dossen
• Rola Olusola
• Skye Corcoran
• Isabelle Fitzpatrick

Republic of Ireland Women's U17 internationals

• Eve Dossen
• Rola Olusola
• Isabelle Fitzpatrick
• Skye Corcoran

Top Goalscorers

• Patrick Hoban: 21 (2009–12)
• Rory Gaffney: 15 (2009–11)
• Lar Defly: 69

^[16]

New Zealand U20 international

• Darren Young

Honours

• Connacht Senior League
  • Winners: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000: 8
  • Runners-up: 1981–82, 1984–85: 2
• Connacht Senior Cup
  • Winners: 1982–83, 1983–84, 1992–93, 1994–95, 1997–98, 1999–2000: 6
  • Runners-up: 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1998–99, 2007–08: 5
• Connacht Senior League Challenge Cup
  • Winners: 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1988–89, 1992–93: 6
  • Runners-up: 1985–86: 1
• Connacht Senior League Cup/Shield
  • Winners: 1981–82, 1992–93, 1999–2000: 3
• Connacht Junior Cup
  • Winners: 1989–90, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2004–05, 2014–15: 6
  • Runners-up: 1979–80, 1984–85: 2
• Galway & District League
  • Winners: 1976–77, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13: 11
• Michael Byrne Cup
  • Winners: 1976–77, 1977–78, 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2009–10, 2010–11: 9
  • Runners-up: 2006–07, 2012–13: 2

Source:^[2]

References

1. "Mervue Club History". mervueunited.com. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
2. "Mervue United Club Role of Honour". mervueunited.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
3. "Mervue United". extratime.ie. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 28 March 2016.
4. "Connacht Senior League 1980s". connacht-sl.netne.net. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
5. "Connacht Senior League 1990s". connacht-sl.netne.net. Archived from the original on 14 May 2015. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
6. "Ireland – FA of Ireland Cup 1921/22-1993/94". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 25 May 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
7. "Ireland – Ireland League Cup 1973/74-2006". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2015.
8. "Kildare County 0–3 Mervue United (Mervue win 5–2)". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 21 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
9. "One club or nothing warns FAI on impasse". connachttribune.ie. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
10. "Mervue United swansong shines a light on FAI mismanagement". goal.com. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 4 May 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
11. "Football's comin' home – compromise reached as Galway FC applies to league". advertiser.ie. 12 September 2013. Archived from the original on 7 November 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
12. "Galway United FC – Club History". galwayunitedfc.ie. Archived from the original on 26 January 2016. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
13. "More than one club a 'weakness' in Galway: report". extratime.ie. 4 October 2012. Archived from the original on 12 April 2016. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
14. "Plans for new Connacht Senior League are temporarily shelved". connachttribune.ie. 13 June 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
15. "Mervue Club Development Plans for 2013". mervueunited.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
16. "Mervue United League of Ireland Scorers". mervueunited.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.