Sporting Fingal 0 - 1 Monaghan United

A ridiculous penalty was the difference between the sides at Morton Stadium tonight after Monaghan United’s Cathal O’Connor stumbled in the area just before the break. Philip Byrne was the unfortunate bystander blamed for the invisible misdemeanour and after Brendan Clarke saved O’Connor’s initial spot kick, he could do nothing about the same man’s well finished rebound. Sporting’s miserable night was compounded with Chris Dean’s second yellow card just before full time.

In truth it was a poor game, with neither side playing with any urgency in the first half. Sporting - perhaps lethargic given their league position - were a shadow of their best, and Monaghan gradually grew into the game and perhaps deserved their win over the course of the game.

Sporting had the better of the first half chances, with Philip Byrne, Conan Byrne and Paul Caffrey all missing the target from good positions in the opening twenty minutes. Mons’ only got going on forty minutes after Don Tierney’s excellent long pass was controlled by Andy Haran on the edge of the area. His first touch cut out two defenders and his shot had to be palmed away by Brendan Clarke.

Then came the awful, ridiculous, terrible and downright useless decision: Cathal O’Connor miss controlled in the area and was obviously struggling to keep the ball in play. As he bundled for the ball he fell over. Philip Byrne was beside him, making no contact whatsoever. No matter, Penalty! 1-0 Mons’, Rubbish.

Sporting didn’t really improve a great deal over the second half. Dinny Corcoran and Paul Caffrey couldn’t convert good chances after the break before Chris Doran’s free kick whizzed just wide. At the other end Monaghan enjoyed much better chances, primarily benefiting from lots of space due to a chasing Sporting side. Paul Whelan’s effort was cleared off the line by Barry Ferguson before O’Connor was thwarted by the same man. Andy Haran and Darragh Hanaphy also missed great chances from close range as time ticked by.

In the ninetieth minute Chris Deans was sent off for his second yellow but was quickly followed down the tunnel (I don’t think it’s a tunnel but nevermind) by his sombre team-mates at full time.

Sporting Fingal: Brendan Clarke; Brian Gannon, Philip Byrne (Derek Tyrell 46), Barry Ferguson, John Frost; Conan Byrne, Chris Deans, Paul Caffrey, Christy Doran; Dinny Corcoran (Willie Doyle 68), Paul Byrne (Peter Hynes 72).

Monaghan united: Brendan Kennedy; Paul Whelan, Aaron Mooney, Conor McMahon, Barry Clancy; Cathal O’Connor, Dom Tierney, Brian Gartland, Sean Brennan; Darragh Hanaphy, Andy Haran (Dave Scully 79).

Referee: Padraigh Sutton.

Extratime Man of the Match: Barry Ferguson (Sporting Fingal).