Monaghan

[ForzaForth]

Disastrous second-half by Wexford resulted in comfortable three points for the Mons in windy Farrycarrig tonight. Wexford started with same eleven as against Mervue with Packie, Martin, Anto, Wolfie, Gareth, Ben, Shane, Greg, Deano and Danny and Gary up front. Wexford started the brighter and had a couple of chances early on with Danny having a header well-saved, Deano shooting wide on his weaker right foot when well-placed and Dany just unable to poke home a low cross by Deano who was doing well wide left. Monaghan then had a good effort with a far-post volley.

[ForzaForth]

Goal then came for Monaghan when a Mons break saw Packie parry a shot wide of the post and the returning cross was handled by Martin (?) and the ref. gave the peno. and a yellow card. Bermingham drilled it straight down the middle for one-nil to the visitors. Gareth then got substituted with Shane Nolan going wside left and Deano back to full back. Nil-one at half-time.

[ForzaForth]

First goal in second-half was always going to be crucial and it went to the Mons from a good diving header from a corner from an unmarked attacker. Packie may have been impeded as he got a yellow for his protests. A bad back pass then found Philly Hughes completely clear and as he went round Packie, he was taken down with a red for Packie and another peno. Pa Doyle came on in goal for Ben Ryan and Bermingham struck it low left for three-nil. Minutes later, Pa was deceived by a shot from the angle of the box which went in at the far post for four-nil.

[ForzaForth]

Some very effeminate handbags between Wolfie and Bermingham as Mons tried to delay a Wexford free then resulted in surprising straight reds for the two - didn't seem to be anything in it. Robert Dempsey then came on for Greg and Gary pulled a goal back for the nine men with a volley from a Wexford corner. Danny also had a late chance for another when one-on-one but Sava blocked it away for a corner. However, Mons generally used the ball well with their extra man and came out comfortable winners. With their extra experience, Mons use of the ball was so much better than Wexford's when they had it and that, together with some naive defending by Wexford at times, was the difference between the two sides.