Monaghan United 4 - 0 Cherry Orchard

• Peter Hughes
• Tue, Jun 16 2009


Monaghan United inflicted a heavy FAI Ford Cup third round replay defeat on minnows Cherry Orchard thanks to a blitzkrieg first half performance orchestrated by midfielder Sean Brennan.

Brennan opened the scoring in the third minute, finishing off an elegant passing move involving Dave Freeman and Barry Clancy, and was Orchard’s tormentor as United totally dictated the game. Cathal O’Connor extended the Mons’ advantage in the 16th minute with a fine shot from the edge of the box.

Winger Barry Clancy, United’s top scorer, bagged a brace before half-time, both headers from pinpoint Paul Whelan crosses although the second was assisted by a chronic misjudgement from the visitors’ rookie goalkeeper Robert Hughes.

Orchard lost Gary Sullivan to a second yellow card in the 53rd minute but recovered some pride by holding United scoreless in the second half, Hughes making a fine save from Karl Bermingham. Aidan Lynch stuck the crossbar in Monaghan’s best attack of the period, while Orchard substitute Paul Clarke almost grabbed a consolation with a piledriving cross-shot in the 75th minute.

Monaghan United: McCarey, Whelan, Grimes, Lunch, Byrne, Tierney, O'Connor, Brennan, Bermingham, Freeman, Clancy. Subs: McCrossan, Hanaphy, McKenna, Gartland, McGann

Cherry Orchard: Hughes, Greaves, Sullivan, Donoghue, P McNevin, Treacy, Dillon, Maher, A McNevin, Sheppard, Cochrane. Subs: Shields, Murphy, Clare, Barry, Coughlan, McCarthy.