Report: Shelbourne 2-0 Monaghan Utd

Robbie Hedderman and Damien Brennan were the unlikely scorers at Tolka Park on Tuesday night’s win over Monaghan. The goals, each from corners either side of half time, saw Shels’ take their points tally to twenty four from the last thirty available.

Monaghan were as attacking as a kitten in a sock as their unbeaten run of ‘two draws’ came to an end. The 776 fans that turned up for this game were shown a glamorised training session as Shels’ dominated in possession without ever really excelling in performance. Robbie Hedderman and James Chambers, as full backs, enjoyed the freedom of Tolka Row all evening as the visitor’s lack of quality really showed.

Both sides made one change for this game since Friday night. Ian Malone replaced the suspended Paul Whelan for Monaghan, while Keith Dunne was given a rare start ahead of Mark O’Brien.

After a rather uneventful opening fifteen minutes, Mark Rutherford did well to win a David McGill pass and cross for the unmarked David Freeman to head straight at Danny Woods. Shels’ attacked again a minute later and Keith Dunne drilled a ball in from the right, which Freeman stepped over conscious of Rutherford free behind him however his first time shot went over.

Shels’ were enjoying possession in better areas then the visitors and on twenty six minutes a Greg O’Halloran corner caused havoc in the Monaghan defence as they could only clear for another corner under pressure from Freeman. O’Halloran this time found the head of Robbie Hedderman, one of three reds in front of goal. One nil.

Monaghan’s best chance of the half came when Don Tierney’s ran thirty yards without so much as a sniff of a red shirt. Monaghan, forward in large numbers, distracted what Shels’ players were back leaving Tierney a direct route to goal. Tierney cut inside however his goal bound effort was tipped over by Delaney.

Alan Mulcahy was introduced at half time for Keith Dunne and his forty eight minute free kick almost rewarded the home side as it found Flood in the area, but his header was stopped by Woods. On fifty five minutes Shels’ doubled their tally after Hedderman again connected with a corner. This one was from Rutherford however, and Hedderman’s flick found Damien Brennan to stab it in at the back post.

Monaghan almost replied immediately through Aaron Mooney. Darren Meenan’s free kick from near the corner flag was headed just wide by the centre half as Monaghan failed to take advantage of a rare foray forward.

James Chambers should have added Shels’ third on sixty five minutes after Mulcahy broke from the half way line. Chambers was fed the ball to his feet in front of goal however Woods got down excellently to deny him.

Monaghan did in fact get forward once in the last thirty minutes when Phillip Sheppard managed a shot with five minutes remaining. It didn’t go in. In the final few minutes Peter McGlynn and Max Cream almost scored for Shels’; Max’s effort, from a corner, was blocked out; and McGlynn’s, from the edge of the area, was stopped by Woods.

Shelbourne: Dean Delany; James Chambers, Alan Keely, Damien Brennan, Robbie Hedderman; Greg O’Halloran, David McGill, Keith Dunne (Alan Mulcahy 46), Mark Rutherford (Peter McGlynn 84); Anto Flood, David Freeman (Max Cream 80).
Subs not used: Fred Davis Jnr, Dean Lawrence.

Monaghan United: Danny Woods; Aaron Mooney, Ian Malone, Wayne Byrne, Kevin Williamson; Darren Meenen, Dom Tierney (Ciaran Reilly 72), Stephen McCrossan, Ian Maher, James Hand (Robbie Collins 37); Eoin Lanigan (Philip Sheppard 72).
Subs not used: Ronan McGann, Brian Gartland.

Referee: Neil Doyle.
Attendance: 776
Man of the match: Greg O’Halloran (Shelbourne) - Difficult day when sides play a five man midfield against you, but he did well.