Monaghan United 4-0 Cherry Orchard
Having been robbed of victory with the final kick of the game on Sunday one felt that Monaghan United would be stung into action for this replay and that Cherry Orchard would suffer the consequences. We only had to wait 3 minutes for United to start raiding the Orchard. A quick move downfield, Barry Clancy played the ball forward to David Freeman who moved along the end line and passed the ball back to the in rushing Sean Brennan who beat one defender and picked his spot to slot home the opener.
Brennan who had been absent on Sunday was proving to be a handful for the visiting defence and on 13 minutes he picked the ball up in his own half beat a number of defenders before he was cynically taken down by Gary Sullivan, otherwise he was through on goals, Sullivan picked up a yellow card which would later prove expensive. Two minutes later Karl Bermingham sent in long low cross, Cathal O’Connor met it on the volley 22 yards out and crashed it to the back of the net for what was the strike of the season so far.
There was now no comparison between the performance of United tonight and last Sunday, with wave after wave of attack they engulfed Cherry Orchard, the pressure on them was so intense that they were lucky not to concede an own-goal on 20 minutes when one of the defenders narrowly headed past his own goal. Following from the resultant corner Paul Whelan sent in a long cross with his left foot, it picked out Barry Clancy just past the far post who met it with a strong header and United were three up. Monaghan’s keeper made his first stop of the half when he got down to claim the ball at the feet of one of the forwards.
United continued to play the best football seen at this venue from any team in a long time, one particular excellent move was when Barry Clancy was put through by Sean Brennan, he in turn sent a perfect pass into the path of Cathal O’ Connor who almost made contact at the foot of the goal post with the keeper beaten but the pace of the ball beat him. Cathal O Connor then turned provider, he delivered a high ball in from sideline, the flight of the ball beat the young keeper and Barry Clancy with predatory instincts was in the right place to head home his second of the night. That score left United leading 4-0 at the interval.
The second half resumed with United on the attack, the first real chance fell to Karl Bermingham when he was put through by Paul Whelan after a great jinky run past a number of defenders, Orchards keeper got down well to smother Bermingham’s attempt. If the four goals hadn’t finished the contest then Gary Sullivans sending off on the hour mark for a second yellow card incurred for a rash challenge on Cathal O Connor, indeed the referee hadn’t realised it was a second yellow until his attention was drawn to the matter by the 4th.official.
Shortly afterwards Karl Bermingham saw yellow for a blatant dive and were it not for the score line at the time his manager would have been very disappointed with his theatrics instead of taking the goal that was on. However Bermingham came close to redeeming himself a minute later when he came close with a great effort from 20 yards. Shortly afterwards Aidan Lynch struck the cross bar with a volley. The game lost its sparkle as the both sides appeared to be playing down the clock, United continued to attack but they lost their cohesion as every player appeared to want to get on the scoreboard.
Cherry Orchard didn’t have their first real attempt in the second half until 78th. minute when substitute Paul Clark dragged a shot across goal and just past the far post and two minutes later the same player nearly embarrassed Aaron Mc. Carey when his speculative shot from the half way line almost lobbed the keeper. Stephen Mc. Crossan almost had the final say for Monaghan in 44 minute when he chipped the keeper only to strike the crossbar.
Like last Sunday at the end the 4th. Official indicated that there was 3 minutes added time whereas on that occasion much to Monaghan’s cost that time extended to over 4 minutes today he blew up slight shy of the allocated three.
The Teams. Monaghan:- Mc. Carey, Whelan, Grimes, Lynch, Byrne, Tierney, O’ Connor, Brennan, Freeman Clancy.
Subs used:- Mc. Crossan, Hanaphy, Mc. Kenna.
Subs not used:- Gartland, Mc. Cann.
Cherry Orchard:- Hughes, Greaves, Sullivan, Donohue, P. Mc. Nevin, Treacy, Dillon, Maher, A. Mc. Nevin, Sheppard, Cochrane.
Subs used:- Shields, Clare, Barry.
Subs not used:- Mc. Carthy, Coughlan, Murphy.
