Cats add to Monaghan's woes
Friday, 19 May 2006 10:50
A physically more imposing Kilkenny City side condemned Monaghan United to a 3-1 defeat - their sixth successive league defeat - in a lively clash at Century Homes Park.
The match opened promisingly for Monaghan, who took the lead in the ninth minute.
Shane Harte whipped a free-kick to the far post and from Robbie Smith's knockback, centre-back Darren Sargent drove the ball home from close range.
But poor defending saw United squander the lead within three minutes.
A free-kick from Kilkenny's Brian King was only half cleared, allowing City captain Aaron Mooney to plant a deft header into the top corner.
United wing-back Jim Murphy bundled the ball in from Brian Gannon's cross on 26 minutes but the effort was ruled out for offside.
Kilkenny were guilty of an extraordinary miss five minutes from the interval.
Conor Buckley burst through and drew United keeper Tadgh Murphy out of the penalty area but when his cross picked out Paul Malone he volleyed over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Escalating second-half pressure by the Cats paid off after 65 minutes. Paddy O'Hanlon's precise pass saw King spin in the box and drive the ball home.
Kilkenny sealed the points on 81 minutes when Liam Tiernan found the net with a glancing header from Peter Darcy's corner.
