Mayo's Conn Rangers fall short against Mervue

Conn Rangers 2

Mervue United 4

Conn Rangers bowed out of the Connacht Cup on Sunday after a powerful Mervue United performance saw the Galway side run out 4–2 winners in Mount Falcon.

Mervue United struck first after 13 minutes when Rian O’Connor headed home from close range following sustained pressure and a series of dangerous crosses.

Their second arrived shortly after, Tom Kidd unleashing a superb strike from distance that McMahon could only parry into the net. A defensive mix-up then gifted Mervue a third, a looping ball drifting over McMahon to leave Conn Rangers with a mountain to climb.

The home side rallied before the break, however. Good play between Lee Traynor and David McHale saw McHale slot home to make it 3–1, and Conn pushed hard with Adam Gallagher and Evan Reape both threatening before half-time.

Conn Rangers reignited the contest early in the second half when Gallagher reacted quickest in the box to fire home and cut the deficit to 3–2.

Moments later, Peter Naughton almost levelled, meeting a Gallagher cross, but Daly produced an excellent save to keep Mervue in front.

Just as Conn were building momentum, an in swinging Mervue corner took a deflection off Brian McMahon and ended up in the net, restoring the visitors’ two-goal advantage. Conn came close again when Mikey McHale’s looping header struck the crossbar, while substitute Mark O’Halloran fired narrowly wide late on for Mervue.

Despite a spirited second-half surge, Conn Rangers couldn’t overturn the early damage, and Mervue United advance to the quarter finals of the Connacht Cup to face Ballinahown FC.