Waterford United 0 - 2 Monaghan United

• Brendan White
• Sat, Oct 10 2009


Monaghan United continued their good form with an excellent victory over a poor Waterford United team in the RSC last night. A goal apiece from Brian Gartland and David Freeman handed Mick Cooke’s team a well deserved win.

Monaghan lost Don Tierney in the warm up while Paul Walsh dropped to the Waterford bench to allow Kenny Browne return from suspension.

Waterford started brightly and had the first chance of the game after just three minutes. Willie John Kiely played a one-two with Vinny Sullivan before firing in a cross that reached Dave Warren at the back but his header was just over the bar.

Monaghan took the lead on seven minutes through Brian Gartland. From a short free-kick, Barry Clancy whipped in a cross that was met by Gartland, who looped a header over Devine and into the back of the net.

Cummins was next on the attack. Cummins held up the ball brilliantly after a long run down the right wing before his attempted cross was blocked. Waters’ corner was easily cleared. Willie John Kiely’s run and cross was almost met by Sullivan, but the striker slipped at the vital moment and McCarey easily collected.

Gartland nearly made it 2-0 when he connected with another Clancy cross but his header went straight at Devine. Waterford then had a big shout for a penalty after 29 minutes after Graham Cummins raced on to a long ball. As Cummins edged toward goal, he was pulled back by defender Niall Flynn who failed to make any contact with the ball, but referee Padraig Sutton waved play on, much to the strikers annoyance.

Waterford created their best chance of the first half came after 34 minutes. Stephen Grant played a low ball into Vinny Sullivan, who held it up very well before laying it off to Kiely, but he shot tamely at keeper McCarey.

Cummins then spun his marker brilliantly shortly afterwards before unleashing a powerful strike that whistled over the crossbar.

Kiely then found Grant, who swung in a cross, but his low cross, eluded everyone. Sullivan had the ball in the Monaghan net just before half time, but the lineman’s flag was correctly raised as Sullivan was in an offside position as Warren blocked the attempted clearance.

Monaghan doubled their lead just eight minutes into the second period. A disastrous back pass attempt by Kenny Browne was left short and David Freeman nipped in to finish excellently past the helpless Devine.

Shortly afterwards Graham Cummins crossed to Willie John Kiely, but his attempted strike was dragged wide of the goal. Waterford continued to press but created little in the way of clear cut chances. Waterford were looking short of idea's and tiredness began to show from Stephen Henderson's outfit.

David Freeman almost scored a goal to add his earlier effort as he ran onto a blocked Browne clearance but Devine saved.

Paul Walsh and David Grincell were introduced as Waterford chased the game but the Blues failed to test Monaghan keeper McCarey until the final moments of the game. McCarey was made to work for his clean sheet in the final minute as he touched over Seamas Long rasping strike.

As the Blues squad trudged off the pitch, some fans began to let their disappointment be known as “boos” could be heard from Waterford fans.

"Very poor" was Stephen Henderson's post match description of his team's performance, without a doubt one of the poorest performances from the team this season. The large volume of games recently for the part time squad is beginning to catch up and the automatic promotion place looks out of their reach after tonight.

For Monaghan, it was a terrific display. Full of ideas, quick thinking, good passing and excellent movement. They never allowed Waterford to get near them and were well deserving of their victory.

Waterford United (4-4-2): Michael Devine, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Kenny Browne, John Kearney, Stephen Grant, Dave Warren, Kevin Waters (Paul Walsh 64), Vinny Sullivan, Graham Cummins, Willie John Kiely (David Grincell 78).
Subs not used: Kevin Burns, Joe Mulcahy, Gary Dunphy.

Monaghan United (4-4-2): Aaron McCarey, Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes, Brian Gartland, Niall Flynn, Stephen McCrossan, Darragh Hanaphy, Alan Byrne, Karl Bermingham, David Freeman, Barry Clancy.
Subs not used: Brendan Kennedy, Sean Brennan, Conor McMahon, Stefan McKevitt.

Referee: Padraig Sutton (Clare)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match: Brian Gartland - The big centre back took his goal brilliantly and could even have scored another. He was at the heart of the defence which never allowed the league’s top goal scorer Graham Cummins a sniff of goal.