Monaghan United 0 - 0 Athlone Town

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, Apr 02 2010


There was a suitably austere Lenten air at Gortakeegan on Good Friday as Monaghan United and Athlone Town served up this dreary goalless draw, one that Town will count as something of an achievement given that they were without red-carded Gareth Kenna for the final twenty minutes of the game.

The match flattered to deceive with a lively opening, Athlone centre-half Brian McCarthy crashing a header off the post in the seventh minute as Town imposed themselves impressively on a United defence missing the commanding influence of the injured Brian Gartland.

But chances were scarce for Athlone after that, strikers Stephen Place and Austin Skelly looking badly out of sorts near goal. It was The Mons who played the more composed football as the half progressed.

Young striker Philip Donnelly slipped out of the clutches of Des Hope in the 42nd minute and when his cross was only half-cleared, United captain Don Tierney had what for him was a very rare punt at goal – a cracking low volley that forced Chris Bennion into his only serious exertion of the night.

Richie O’Hanlon, left unmarked in the box, struck a poor shot for the visitors five minutes into the second half as their malaise near goal continued. Stephen Caffrey then shot high of the target from a free-kick right on the edge of the Monaghan box.

Referee John Grimes unhesitatingly flashed red in the 67th minute when Kenna dived in recklessly on United substitute Darragh Hanaphy, who was stretchered off with a leg injury after only four minutes on the field.

This changed the balance of the game significantly but Monaghan toiled to exploit their numerical advantage, opting to string together ever more complex passing patterns around the precincts of the heavily defended Town goal rather than switching to more direct attacks.

United midfielder Sean Brennan tried an over-elaborate back-heel when Barry Clancy picked him out in the box in the 83rd minute, much to the home fans’ frustration, but Brennan almost atoned a minute later by liberating Stephen McCrossan only for the substitute to drive his shot outside the top corner.

Town showed resolve to hold out to the end, although they endured a major scare in added time when McCrossan was only inches away from connecting with Brennan’s incisive cross from the wing.

Monaghan United: Sava; Collins, Lynch, McMahon, Costigan; Brennan, Tierney, Byrne, Clancy; Bermingham, Donnelly (Hanaphy 62, (McCrossan 69)).
Subs not used: McKevitt, Flynn, Kelly.

Athlone Town: Bennion; Nolan, McCarthy, Hope, O’Shea; Scullion, Caffrey, Kenna, O’Hanlon; Place (Dunne 70), Skelly (Watson 80).
Subs not used: McGee, Farrell, Schlingerman.

Referee: John Grimes