Kilkenny City’s youthful exuberance won the day when they took on Monaghan United at Kingspan Century Park last Friday. City came out on top thanks to a goal apiece from Paraic Fogarty and Martin Tynan.
Monaghan United’s new Goalkeeper, Barbados International ‘keeper, Alvin Rouse, pulled on the number 1 jersey for the first time for United and was anxious to keep a clean sheet. He managed this well in the first half but despite his best efforts was unable to stop Fogarty’s 50 minute net-rattler or Tynan’s 82nd minute heartbreake.
United started off brightly and within 10 minutes were pushing the Kilkenny defence to their limits but an offside ruling ruined Robbie Farrell’s chance of making his attempt count. Not to be deterred, United kept pushing forward and Brian Gannon and Finbar Heffernan’s speedy runs into the Kilkenny box caused concern for 17 year old John McGuinness in nets but lucky for him the United players were again considered off side by the official on the line.
A few minutes later, 19 minutes into the game, United had an excellent opportunity to go in front when a Mickey Kerr corner caught McGuinness unaware and he fluffed what should have been a straightforward catch. McGuinness managed to recover and grab the ball just in time before a Mon could get a foot to it.
Heaping on the pressure, United’s Peter D’arcy put the ball just wide of the mark having capitalised on a squandered throw in by Kilkenny. In an oft physical and occasionally rough half the first booking came the Cat’s way with Kevin Walsh being yellow carded for his up ending of Finbar Heffernan. Mons were unable to make anything of their resulting free kick.
Another free minutes later looked like it would yield the much deserved and hard sought goal for United but in the goal mouth melee Brian Gannon was unlucky to send the ball wide. As City continued to try and curtail United’s dominance, they gave away 3 consecutive free kicks and Mickey Kerr stepped up each time but Mon’s were to come away without the coveted score.
On the 37th minute a Kevin Williamson corner fell perfectly to Farrell’s head but the ball rebounded off the keeper back to Farrell. United’s supporters were on their feet expecting to celebrate but somehow the ball was put behind the goals by a now more solid Kilkenny defence to give Monaghan another corner. A Kerr corner was sent in with his usual aplomb but Kilkenny’s defence were able to clear it.
The first half finished off with United again making the Kilkenny players feel lucky that Mon’s finishing was not up to par as Paul Whelan came close in the dying minutes. Nil all at half time but with Monaghan would have left the field feeling the more confident of the 2 teams.
The second half was a different story almost straight away. United did try to make inroads into the Kilkenny half early on but the homeside were shocked when the Cats brought the game to Monaghan with a succession of free kicks and corners to unsettled United. Michael Comerford was assigned the task of taking the set piece but United’s defence of Steven Feeney and Aaron Mooney steadied the ship and managed to block Kilkenny’s best efforts.
The Noresiders hard work in the opening minutes of the 2nd half paid dividends when 10 minutes from the re-start Fogarty made the most of a goalmouth scramble from a fine Comerford free kick. Rouse in the United goal hadn’t stood a chance.
United came straight back at them though and Heffernan was unlucky to be caught offside after a darting run onto a perfectly placed ball from Whelan. Heffernan was then booked to crown his misery after reacting to a late challenge by Kilkenny’s Ian Nagle.
The game continued in a haphazard manner with neither sides setting the pitch alight with their ingenuity. Mons had a few chances through Farrell and a Kerr free kick but it wasn’t until Cavanman Mackey stepped onto the pitch in place of Williamson that United really looked like getting the crucial equaliser. He was unfortunate that his flying header was not able to find the back of the net. Heffernan’s fleet footed, greyhound like run from deep inside his own half set Cian Mackey up but McGuinness had it covered.
On the 82nd minute, despite strong protestations of a blatant offside from the large home support, Tynan was through and slotted past Rouse having sent the keeper the wrong way. Despite the obvious disappointment of having let a poor Kilkenny score twice, the United team picked themselves up and inspired by acting Captain Robbie Farrell, who practised what he preached by replying to the goal with a shot which was just wide of the mark. This was to be United’s last clear chance and Kilkenny were like the cats who got the cream, leaving the pitch with all three points.
In a barely entertaining and rough and tumble game, Kilkenny were grateful of the 3 points having narrowly been beaten by Dundalk the previous week and will go into their game against last season’s Premier Division title holders Shelbourne, with a new found confidence. United were unlucky to have their unbeaten run ended in such a manner but will be hoping to turn their fortunes around when they meet Finn Harps in Donegal next Friday.
