Monaghan United 2-3 UCD

• Peter Hughes
• Sat, Jun 06 2009


Last-ditch goals from Ciaran Kilduff and substitute Timmy Purcell hauled First Division UCD back from the brink of defeat at the hands of ten-man Monaghan United and gave them an exceptionally dramatic win at Kingspan Century Park last night.

The result was cruel on a United side handicapped by Cathal O’Connor’s 38th minute sending off and a bad head injury to centre-back Aidan Lynch, who bravely played the second half heavily bandaged.

Monaghan rocked the Students in the ninth minute when Paul Whelan crossed for the diminutive Barry Clancy to head past the diving Ger Barron.

An Alan Byrne foul presented UCD with a chance to equalise from the penalty spot in the 16th minute but Chris Mulhall’s effort was saved by Ronan McGann.

Mulhall made amends in the 35th minute when he seized on Peter McMahon’s magnificent diagonal pass before driving home the equaliser.

O’Connor’s dismissal saw UCD dominate, Brian Shorthall striking the post just before half-time and the early second half becoming a virtual siege of the United goal.

However, the Mons broke away in the 70th minute to take the lead, Byrne thundering home a header from Clancy’s corner.

United held out until the 85th minute when UCD captain Ronan Finn crossed for Ciaran Kilduff to head the equaliser.

A minute from time the Students won it when substitute Timmy Purcell hit a snap-shot on the turn low past McGann.

Monaghan United: McGann; Whelan, McMahon, Lynch, Grimes; O’Connor, Tierney, Byrne, Clancy; Bermingham (Freeman 81), Hanaphy

U.C.D: Barron; Matthews (Purcell 63), McMillan, Boyle, Shortall; Creevey, Finn, Reilly (Ward 75); Mulhall, McMahon, Kilduff

Referee: Tomás Connolly