Monaghan United 2 - 0 Longford Town

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, May 22 2009


Goals late in each half by Darren McKenna and Stephen McCrossan sealed a 2-0 win over a poor Longford Town at Kingspan Century Park to make it four First Division wins out of five for resurgent Monaghan United.

The dominant force of an indifferent first half, Monaghan eventually made some sustained pressure pay in the 42nd minute when Aidan Lynch was left unmarked, allowing him to pick out Darren McKenna with a slide-rule pass. McKenna swivelled and blasted home from 12 yards.

Town deployed more direct tactics in the second period and should have equalised in the 72nd minute when, after a flowing move involving substitutes Gary Curran and Darren Concannon, Liam Lynch headed wide with the Monaghan goal at his mercy.

Longford captain Ray Kenny fatally undermined his side's chances of a point in the 80th minute with his second booking of the game for dissent to referee Paul Caschera. Ten-man Town were overstretched at the back and Monaghan duly capitalised. In the 87th minute, McKenna robbed Tom King and set up Dave Freeman for a shot bravely saved by Anthony Fennelly. The loose ball fell to midfielder Stephen McCrossan who made no mistake from close range and proceeded to celebrate the winner in acrobatic fashion.

Monaghan United: Kennedy, Whelan, Grimes, Lynch, Gartland, McKenna, O'Connor, McCrossan, Freeman, Hanaphy, Clancy. Subs: Brennan, Bermingham, McGann, McCarey, Treacy

Longford Town: Fennelly, King, Gough, Kenny, Sheridan, Russo, Murphy, Jinks, Lynch, Glynn, McCartney. Subs: Curran, Murtagh, Concannon, Clarke, Lee