Monaghan United 4 - 0 Mervue United

• Peter Hughes
• Sat, Jul 31 2010


This facile 4-0 victory which allowed Monaghan United continue their promotion crusade was greatly facilitated by the first-half sending off of Mervue United goalkeeper Ger Hanley.

United were just beginning to dominate at Gortakeegan when Hanley was flashed red by referee Conor Fitzgerald for taking Philly Hughes out when the striker was Scott-free on goal.

Karl Bermingham’s penalty looked set to open the floodtide for the Mons but Hanley’s replacement, right-back Tommy Walsh, in many respects was the hero of the night with a string of inspired, if at times unorthodox, saves to keep the scoreline semi-respectable.

It took the home side, who lost recent signing Ian McNeill to injury in the early stages, 25 minutes before they tested Hanley, Alan Byrne’s header almost creeping in under the crossbar. But the effort seemed to move the Mons into overdrive, and a breakthrough had looked increasingly imminent before Hughes broke clear in the 32nd minute only to be body checked by Hanley.

After the inevitable sending off, Walsh’s first duty between the sticks was to retrieve Bermingham’s straight-down-the-middle spot-kick from the net. But the stand-in did better when palming Stephen McCrossan’s cross-cum-shot to safety, and then turning away Bermingham’s well-struck effort.

In first-half added time Hughes should have put Monaghan further clear but blasted his shot well wide when he had time and space to finish clinically. Mervue set out to defend in depth in the second half, but their resistance was broken in the 52nd minute when Alan Byrne’s header was blockaded on the line but fell to McCrossan who stabbed home from very close range.

If McCrossan’s initial score was messy, he bagged a peach in the 61st minute. Hughes tracked down Don Tierney’s long ball, was forced wide but cut back a pass which the United midfielder met with a superb first-time shot which found the roof of the net. Walsh made a brave save at the feet of Hughes to limit the damage. A rare Mervue attacking sortie saw them win a free-kick, but when Simon Walsh met Alex Lee’s cross with a firm header, he saw the effort come back off the post with United ‘keeper Gabriel Sava beaten.

When pacey Mons substitute Darragh Hanaphy outstripped a tiring Mervue defence and slotted home for 4-0 in the 72nd minute, a late scoring deluge for the home side looked on the cards. But Walsh denied Hanaphy with an instinctive save, and the sub soon after struck the crossbar, the rebound falling to Cathal O’Connor who powered the ball home only to be flagged offside.

Walsh kicked away an explosive O’Connor shot in the 82nd minute and denied Karl Bermingham on the line. Barry Clancy and O’Connor again came close for Monaghan in added time.

Monaghan United: Sava; McNeill (Whelan 23) McMahon, Byrne, Grimes; O’Connor, Tierney (77), McCrossan, Clancy; Bermingham, Hughes (Hanaphy 65).
Subs not used: Brennan, Donnelly.

Mervue United: Hanley; T Walsh, Casserley, Young, Ludden; Ryan (Varley 75), Crehan, S Walsh, Lee (Popescu 54); Goldbey, Connolly (Mannion 59).
Subs not used: McEntee, Conneely.

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald