Waterford United 1 - 3 Monaghan United

• Brendan White
• Wed, Nov 03 2010


A hard working Monaghan United side advanced to face Bray Wanderers for a place in the Premier Division after a 3-1 win against Waterford United in the RSC on Tuesday night.

Aidan Lynch gave Monaghan a first half lead with a second-half brace from Philly Hughes enough for victory with Liam Kearney grabbing the goal for the home side who can have little complaint about the full-time result.

Both sides made one change from their games at the weekend. Shane Barrett replaced Gary Dunphy for Waterford United, while Sean Brennan replaced Darragh Hanaphy for the visitors. The talk before the game was about the appointment of match referee Paul McLaughlin to take charge of the game who, despite being from Donegal, is based in Monaghan. A more experienced referee was questionably needed for a game of such significance for both sides.

The game was just a few minutes old when the first real move of the game arrived. Paul Murphy found Liam Kearney who in turn found the overlapping Michael Coady. He passed inside for John Kearney but his attempted cross hit the defender and rebounded back for a goal kick. Five minutes later, the home side were again on the attack. Shane Barrett found Coady in the centre, and he picked out Liam Kearney down the left wing. Kearney found room for the cross but Paul Murphy's header was saved Sava in the Monaghan goal.

Two minutes later, Monaghan came closest to opening the scoring. Philly Hughes flicked the ball through for Sean Brennan and, while Seamus Long slipped, keeper Kevin Burns was out quick to make a good save. Shortly afterwards Don Tierney made Burns save well before John Kearney headed Paul Murphy’s cross over the bar at the other end.

Monaghan made their dominance count by grabbing the opening goal after 28 minutes. Kevin Burns let Cathal O’Connor’s corner slip through his hands which allowed Aidan Lynch to power his header towards goal. His effort came back of the crossbar but the centre-back got a second chance and headed to the back of the net.

Minutes later Burns was back in action saving from Clancy after Brennan’s cross-field ball. With half-time almost upon us, Waterford missed a golden opportunity to go in level at the break. A superb Paul Murphy ball set Liam Kearney away but the impressive Sava rushed from his goal and blocked the low shot.

Monaghan almost extended their lead two minutes into the second half. Cathal O'Connor's looping shot came back off the crossbar with Burns well beaten. The ball eventually dropped to Brian Gartland but his deflected strike was cleared off the line by Kevin Murray.

Brennan set Clancy away down the left wing, and although looking slightly offside, the midfielder raced to the byline to produce a superb cross matched by the superb header from striker Philip Hughes past the helpless Burns to double the away sides lead.

The response from the home side was almost instant. Kearney instigated the chance when he cut in from the right and fired goalwards but Sava saved well and touched it behind for a corner. Paul Murphy whipped in the corner which found the head of Seamus Long. Long’s header toward goal was hooked to the top corner by Liam Kearney to pull the home side back into the game.

Waterford pushed for an equalising goal and it almost came minutes later. Substitute Paul Walsh slipped Willie John Kiely through but Sava was again there to block the shot. Shortly afterwards, Kiely and Waterford had a big shout for a penalty as Grimes appeared to clip Kiely as turned just inside the penalty area, but referee McLaughlin waved play on.

Waterford’s fight back was ended on 84 minutes however. Brennan went to ground from an almost nothing tackle and was awarded the free kick. Philip Hughes took the responsibility of the free kick and duly fired a stunning 25 yard free kick past Kevin Burns for his second of the game and seal the win.

The home side continues to press with John Kearney firing over and namesake Liam forcing Sava into another good save. Monaghan almost grabbed a fourth in the final minute as Clancy fed Brennan but his chip came back off the crossbar. And so the final whistle went as Monaghan United progressed to face Bray Wanderers over two legs for a place in the Premier Division. For Stephen Henderson, his side face another season in the second tier.

Waterford United: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell (Paul Walsh 70), Shane Barrett (John Hayes 85’), John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely, Paul Murphy.
Subs not used: Chris Konopka, Kevin Waters, Gary Dunphy.
Booked: Barrett, Coady.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon, Shane Grimes, Aidan Lynch (Paul Whelan 69), Brian Gartland, Don Tierney, Cathal O’Connor, Alan Byrne, Sean Brennan, Philly Hughes, Barry Clancy.
Subs not used: David Quirke, Stephen McCrossan, Darragh Hanaphy, Ian McNeil.
Booked: Byrne

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan)
Attendance: 1462
Extratime Man of the Match: Gabriel Sava - Numerous top class saves to keep Monaghan in front - none more so than from Liam Kearney before half time.