Mervue United 3 - 1 Monaghan United

• Terry Flaherty
• Sat, Apr 30 2011


Mervue Utd ended Roddy Collins Monaghan Utd’s unbeaten run in style as they recorded an impressive 3-1 win as a Jason Molloy double ensured a first league win at Fahy’s Field, while the visitors also ended the game with just nine men.

The home side were quick out of the blocks and captain Mike Tierney headed over a right wing cross from Rory Gaffney after just three minutes. That should have acted as warning to Monaghan but two minutes later and Johnny Glynn’s side were in front.

Gaffney and Mark Ludden did the ground work on the left before Ludden fed the ball to Molloy who cut inside Aiden Collins before unleashing a low drive into the bottom corner past a helpless Gabriel Sava.

Tom King almost doubled that lead on 11 minutes after he broke down the right but his shot from a tight angle whizzed just past Sava’s far post. Dan Cunningham then worked a good opportunity on the left of the box but no Mervue player could get on the end of his low ball across the face of the Monaghan goal four minutes later.

Monaghan drew level against the run of play when a back header from Eric Browne dropped into the path of a lurking Declan O’Brien and he expertly lobbed Ger Hanley to tie matters at 1-1 on 18 minutes for his sixth goal in five games.

That set back didn’t ruffled the home side as they continued to play confidently and were back in front eight minutes later. Gaffney was the creator out on the right as he cut inside Shane Grimes to deliver a deep cross to the back post, which Ludden knocked back into the six yard box were Eric Browne gratefully knocked the ball past Sava for 2-1.

King picked out Gaffney in the centre with a cross from the right but Sava saved well touching his headed effort around the post for a corner on 33 minutes. Ludden headed another King delivery straight at Sava on the stroke of half time as the home side ended the first period on the attack.

Mervue doubled their lead, and Molloy his tally for the night, when Gaffney played him in and the striker held off Paul Whelan and Conor McMahon before blasting his effort past Sava at his near post ten minutes after the re-start.

Monaghan were reduced to ten men when defender Paul Whelan collected a straight red for retaliation on Molloy following a foul by the striker on the sideline on 63 minutes, with the goalscorer also booked.

Molloy almost grabbed his hat-trick three minutes later when Tierney set him up in the box but he hit a tame effort straight at Sava. King then saw a speculative long range effort just drop over a relieved Sava’s crossbar, while Gaffney also just cleared the visitors crossbar with a central effort from another Tierney assist.

Monaghan then had goalscorer O’Brien, who only just returned from suspension, dismissed following a challenge just inside the Mervue half. Mark Ludden was then denied twice in quick succession by Sava as they keeper was well positioned to collect both efforts.

The Monaghan keeper came to his side’s rescue again with five minutes remaining as he denied the impressive Gaffney with his legs, while sub Don Tierney shot over at the other end following a lay-off from fellow sub Michael Isichei.

Mervue halted a three game run of defeats with this win as they finally registered their first league win since returning home to Fahy’s Field and on this evidence no team will relish the journey to the east Galway City venue.

Monaghan's surprise defeat saw them miss out on a chance to go top of the First Division table as Roddy Collins' side tasted defeat for the first time this season.

Mervue Utd: Ger Hanley, Nicky Curran, Dan Cunningham, Martin Conneely, Eric Browne, Noel Varley, Tom King, Mark Ludden, Mike Tierney (Alex Lee ‘83), Rory Gaffney, and Jason Molloy (David O’Brien ’71).
Subs not used: James Casserely, Kevin Crehan, Dave Goldbey, Mike Elwood, TJ Forde (GK).
Booked: Eric Browne ‘14, Jason Molloy ‘63

Monaghan Utd: Gabrial Sava, Paul Whelan, Shane Grimes (Jason Marks ’54), Dave Rogers, Aidan Collins, Conor McMahon, John Reilly (Michael Isichei ’73), Eric Foley, Ryan Brennan, Declan O’Brien and Sean Brennan (Don Tierney ’63).
Subs not used: Philip Byrne, Alan Byrne, Andy Haran, Jake Rossiter (GK)
Booked: Sean Brennan ’14,
Sent Off: Paul Whelan ’63, Declan O’Brien ‘77

Attendance: 227

Referee: Stuart Templeman (Kerry)

Extratime.ie Man of the Match – Jason Molloy (Mervue Utd) – Scored two well taken goals