Griffin's goal gives County first win
By Peter Hughes
Eircom League Division 1
Monaghan United O, Kildare County 1 (Griffin 43)
KILDARE County matched Monaghan United for commitment and found the edge in creativity to come out on top in this bruising battle at Century Homes Park.
County had to form a tough defensive shield for much of the second half to protect the 43rd minute lead crafted for them by Robbie Griffin, but successfully frustrated a Monaghan side, whose attacking gameplan was compromised by the 13th minute departure with a facial injury of striker Alan O'Connor.
His replacement Eoghan O'Meara grafted hard in an unfamiliar attacking role but won little reward from a miserly Kildare backline in which centrebacks Ray Kenny and Philip Byrne constituted a barrier United just hadn't the guile to breach.
Kildare also had to reshuffle when Ryan O'Donnell limped off just before half-time to be replaced by Alan King. The "magic sponge" men from both camps were regular visitors to the pitch to carry out running repairs as a conesquence of the tough, but largely fair, tackling that distinguished the play.
The home side was rarely penetrative, and when Gavin Doyle did conjure a chance for Brendan Markey in the 12th minute Kildare captain Kenny calmly snuffed out the danger. Kenny was also on hand a few minutes later to clear when Danny O'Leary unaccountably dropped a cross from Anto Murphy.
With Alan Byrne commanding proceedings in midfield, Kildare worked patiently to break down the United defence and almost won their reward in the 23rd minute when Martin Reilly got free only for Monaghan 'keeper Alan Fitzpatrick to race from his box and sweep the ball clear. O'Leary, after his uncertain start, made important saves from O'Meara and Paul Shiels.
Kildare switched to the long ball to create chances and O'Donnell put Alan Byrne in the clear by this method in the 27th minute. Byrne charged through on goal but Fitzpatrick blocked bravely on the edge of his penalty area. Then Byrne himself employed the long ball tactic to free Alan McNevin but he elected to cross and Fitzpatrick plucked the ball out of the air.
Two minutes from half-time Kildare finally solved the puzzle. Philip Byrne carried the ball forward from the back and slipped a weighted pass through for Reilly. Monaghan manager Mick Cooke could be seen on the touchline plunging his head into his hands as Griffin calmly drew the 'keeper, stepped to one side and drove the ball home.
While County started the second half the stronger, they were soon penned back in their half by a determined Monaghan. O'Meara had an effort cleared off the line by Gareth Cronin after O'Leary could only palm away Murphy's viciously inswinging free-kick. Then a skilful first-time lobbed pass by Shiels put O'Meara in the clear only for Monaghan to be hoist on their own petard by the offside flag.
For all their possession and endeavour, Monaghan badly lacked a spark of creativity in midfield. Highly rated new signing Murphy looked the most likely to provide it, and when he whipped in another free-kick in the 74th minute Monaghan actually had the ball in the net courtesy of Shane Jackson, but referee Barr ruled the score out, spotting that the centre-half had used his arm to steer the cross home.
Five minutes later another dangerous Murphy free-kick was pushed away by O'Leary at full stretch, and the Kildare custodian was called quickly into action again, getting down well to save after Holt struck a volley through a cluster of players.
United threw men forward with abandon in the final few minutes, and almost paid heavily when Barry O'Connor made an 86th minute breakaway and supplied Reilly, but the Kildare striker was ajudged offside.
Kildare could have put the issue beyond doubt in the last minute when a mistake by Jackson presented Griffin with a great chance, but Fitzpatrick made a fine blocking save. And there was still time for a further Kildare scare when Monaghan captain Holt sent a free-kick fizzing inches over the crossbar in stoppage time.
Monaghan Town: Alan Fitzpatrick; Paul Whelan, Shane Jackson, Graham Doyle, Sean Kelly; Anto Murphy, Paul Shiels, Stuart Holt, Gavin Doyle (Michˇal Treanor 88); Alan O'Connor (Eoghan O'Meara 13), Brendan Markey.
Kildare County: Danny O'Leary; Ryan O'Donnell (Alan King 40), Ray Kenny, Philip Byrne, Garth Cronin; Ger O'Brien, Alan Byrne, Robbie Griffin, Alan McNevin (Shane Harte 90); Martin Reilly, Barry O'Connor.
Referee: Eddie Barr (Dublin).
Next week: Kildare County v Cobh Ramblers, Station Road, 7.30pm, Saturday.
