Monaghan United 1 - 0 Limerick FC

• Peter Hughes
• Thu, Jul 02 2009


Monaghan United overtook opponents Limerick FC in the First Division table thanks to this narrow but deserved victory at Kingspan Century Park.

David Freeman was the goal hero, outdistancing the Limerick defence in the 12th minute from Stephen McCrossan’s cushioned pass and slotting the ball past the advancing Brian Collopy.

Freeman should have added to his tally spectacularly in the 25th minute, but his diving header from Brian Clancy’s cross was kept out by a fine Collopy save.

Shane Clarke flashed a header wide from Martin Deady’s free-kick soon afterwards as Limerick rallied, but the visitors spent most of the remainder of the game frustrated by an excellent Monaghan defence superbly marshalled by Aidan Lynch.

It wasn’t until ten minutes from time that Limerick again threatened, substitute David Ryan breaking through only to be denied by the bravery of Ronan McGann.

Nerves assailed the hitherto accomplished United backline in the final minutes and they survived a few scares, most notably in added time when Clarke’s piledriver from the edge of the box brought a magnificent reaction stop from McGann.

MONAGHAN UNITED: McGann; McMahon, Lynch, Gartland (Hanaphy 70), Grimes; Whelan, Tierney, McCrossan, Clancy; Bermingham, Freeman.

LIMERICK F.C.: Collopy; Barrett (Ryan 55), O’Callaghan, Danaher (Colbert half-time), Deady; Walsh, Tracy, Roche, Hughes (O’Connor 76); Clarke, Tierney.

Referee: Robert Rogers