Monaghan United 1 - 0 Waterford United

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, Apr 16 2010


A battling performance by Monaghan United sent Waterford United away from Gortakeegan minus their 100% First Division record following a fiercely competitive and often exciting match.

Waterford were rocked on their heels in the fifth minute when Barry Clancy’s whipped cross found Cathal O’Connor unmarked in the box and the midfielder finished with aplomb. Producing crisp passing football that indicated why they have been the division’s early pacesetters, Waterford came strongly into the contest. But the wisdom of their deploying Vinnie Sullivan as a lone striker looked questionable as he struggled to prosper against United’s teak-tough centre-back combination of Brian Gartland and Aidan Lynch.

Waterford midfielder Paul McCarthy produced a wonderful piece of close control on the edge of the box after 39 minutes, and his low shot fizzed only a foot past the far post. But the greatest first-half threat to United’s lead was posed when Aidan Lynch’s back-pass somehow slipped past the advancing Sava’s foot but struck the post to save the home side acute embarrassment.

Waterford boss Stephen Henderson rang the changes as the second half progressed, introducing James O’Sullivan and Dave Grincell to give his side more attacking teeth. But it was the appearance of much-vaunted new signing George O’Callaghan on the hour that sent the biggest murmur of anticipation through the visiting fans.

O’Callaghan almost delivered when he hammered a volley from an acute angle past the post, and then teed up Liam Kearney for a fierce drive from distance that flashed just over Sava’s crossbar. But Monaghan came close themselves, a lovely passing interchange on the counterattack liberating Sean Brennan, who was denied by Chris Konopka’s flying save.

Waterford threw everything into attack in the closing stages but United held firm, although in the final minute they survived an almighty scare when Sullivan’s header beat Sava only for midfielder Alan Bryne to save the day with a goal-line clearance.

Monaghan United: Sava; McMahon, Lynch, Gartland, Costigan; O’Connor, McCrossan, Byrne, Clancy; Hughes, Brennan.
Subs not used: McKevitt, Donnelly, McMahon, Clarke, Flynn.

Waterford United: Konopka; Carey, Murray, Hayes, J Kearney; McCarthy (O’Callaghan 61), Long, L Kearney, Kiely (Grincell 78), Cambridge (O’Sullivan 46); Sullivan.
Subs not used: Purcell, Dunphy.

Referee: John McLoughlin