Monaghan United 3 - 0 Wexford Youths

• Peter Hughes
• Tue, Nov 10 2009


Monaghan United easily won this battle for fifth place honours in the First Division, goals from Stephen McCrossan, Karl Bermingham and Paul Whelan accounting with some comfort for a Wexford Youths side for whom last night’s Kingspan Century Park appointment looked one game too many at the end of a busy season.

Mick Wallace’s men started at a high tempo, but faded after their first flurry. It was no surprise when United went ahead after 27 minutes when McCrossan unleashed a powerful drive from the ‘D’ that Wexford ‘keeper Packie Holden will have been disappointed not to have held.

The goal whetted United’s attacking appetite, and when Barry Clancy flicked a header towards the back post in the 36th minute Karl Bermingham slid in to register his 17th goal of the season, equalling a club scoring record.

The dangerous Clancy hit the post either side of half time, but the game faded as a spectacle after the interval. Monaghan were content to soak up the pressure and Wexford profited little from their possession, shots from distance from Tiernan Rossiter and Gareth McCurtin doing little to trouble United’s Wolves-bound goalkeeper Aaron McCarey.

A flowing breakaway passing move led to United’s third in the 75th minute, Cathal O’Connor dropping a cross to the back post and full-back Whelan, after his initial header was clawed off the line by Holden, forcing the ball home from very close range.

Wexford strived gallantly to take something from the game, but when they eventually beat McCarey in the 88th minute through Chris Kenny’s header, United substitute Sean Brennan dived full length to clear the ball off the goal-line.

MONAGHAN UNITED: McCarey; Whelan, Flynn, Gartland, Grimes; O’Connor, Tierney (Lynch 90), McCrossan, Clancy (Brennan 73); Bermingham, Freeman (Hanaphy 80).

WEXFORD YOUTHS: Holden; McCurtin, Kenny, White, Breen (Vickers 41); Malone, S Dempsey, Rossiter (McDonald 86), Sheehan; Furlong (R Dempsey 57), Broaders.

Referee: P McLoughlin