Mons Men Glide Past The Youth
Right from the start of the FAI eircom League of Ireland first division clash between Monaghan United and Wexford Youths, the northerners showed their determination but it wasn’t until the 2nd half that United were able to find the goal twice to seal the win.
Darren Meenan proved his worth once more as he battled hard throughout the game and was rightly rewarded with his goal on the 75th minute while 2nd top scorer in the division Robbie Farrell sealed the victory with his superb 79th minute winner.
Despite Monaghan’s almost complete dominance of the game, Wexford Youths caused a few scares including an attack in the fourth minute but Meenan became saviour when he managed to get the ball back and headed up the pitch. He was cleanly dispossessed in the midfield but was undeterred and was back on the ball within minutes. Meenan sent in an opportunistic cross but Youths managed to clear.
Brian Gannon was gifted an early chance on goal when he picked up on a ball from Meenan in the 9th minute but despite making a fine run through the defence, he was halted in his tracks by the Wexford defence.
Wexford made their first real challenge as they moved up the pitch passing the ball, luckily for United their defence stood up to the test and they were soon pushing the Model County’s best back up the pitch to win a corner. Gannon sent in a trademark corner but it bounced off a Wexford player and back out to him but as he fed the ball back in he was denied.
United continued to control the midfield with tenacity and new signing Don Tierney showed some beautiful skill with a cheeky move when he curved the ball around a Wexford defender leaving him looking bewildered as he ran around him and then sent the ball out wide and up the pitch.
As United’s unrelenting persecution of the Wexford defence carried on, a Meenan shot ricocheted off a Wexford player and out for a corner. As the ball was fed back into the waiting players, Jason Russell in the Wexford nets fumbled the ball leaving Willie Doyle with a great chance. Doyle was unable to convert the chance however as his mistimed kick was easily stopped.
When United won a free on the edge of the box 21 minutes into the half, Peter D’arcy’s ball was missed by the goalie and the ball bounced heartbreakingly off the goal post. United wasted another opportunity a minute later after adeptly getting through a sticky midfield only to pass the ball to a Wexford player.
Farrell showed his class again when he skinned the defence before sending in his cross but the ball was put out for a Monaghan corner. The corner ball was sent back out before United sent another optimistic shot in but the ball went over for a goal kick.
Alivn Rouse in the United goal was called into action for the first time in the 30th minute when he made a fine save of a weak Wexford cross. United headed back up the pitch with a steely determination and won a free. The free found Farrell but he was unable to get a clear shot on goal and the Youths were awarded a goal kick.
As the first half died off United still looked like they were going to score but despite a terrific free from Aaron Mooney being passed between Meenan and Paul Whelan, United were unable to break down the Wexford defence before the ball went out for a corner. Kevin Williamson made one of many great tackles to prevent Wexford from getting too close to scoring and the half ended nil all.
Within seconds of the resumption of the game United were again stamping their authority on the pitch. An early throw was followed by a great run on the wing by Whelan. His shot blazed across the goal convincing fans it was going in.
No matter Wexford tried to throw at United, the defence and midfield dealt competently with it and turned the tables quickly. A 58th minute free kick by D’arcy near the edge of the box gave Wexford a fright but their defence struggled on and managed to deflect the danger putting the ball out for a corner which Russell caught.
Wexford went on the attack but Mooney made a great block of the Wexford cross and sent the ball out to Gannon. Gannon sped up the field but got caught up in the Wexford defence before he could produce a goal.
United came close 19 minutes into the 2nd half when a power blaster of a free kick by D’arcy was put just wide by the goalie managing to get a hand to it. The Youth’s didn’t give in and came back at United but again every move they made was stunted by a strong United back 4.
Meenan again showed his Under 21 Northern Ireland International credentials when he skilfully by-passed every obstacle Wexford put in his way and teamed up with Williamson as United put the Youths to the wire. Russell in goals made a fine save to keep the game on a goalless basis.
It was as if United could smell the goal opportunity coming and they stepped up the pace with Meenan, Doyle and Farrell almost making a mockery of the Wexford defence as they closed in on the target. Meenan was celebrating with 75 minutes on the clock as he volleyed a D’arcy ball past the floundering Wexford keeper into the top corner of the net.
Buoyed up by Meenan’s remarkable goal United picked the pace up even further and flourished into the team they have had the potential to be all season. As they pushed Wexford to the maximum, Farrell got his opportunity to add to his 6 league goals so far when Wexford were unable to clear the incoming ball. In the ensuing skirmish Farrell boldly slid the ball past Russell.
United made sure not to make the mistake of their first encounter with the Youths and pushed on instead of sitting back when they were 2 goals to the good. Wexford tried to come back into it but United had the measure of them in every way and it was Farrell who once more went on the goal hunt. He was unable to find the net again but United pushed on to the bitter end showing their resilience in the pouring rain.
As the final whistle went, a delighted United left the pitch with a well deserved 3 points and moved ahead of Wexford Youths in the table. Monaghan United 2-0 Wexford Youths.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Rouse, Whelan, Williamson, Burke, Mooney, Tierney, Meenan, Gannon, Farrell (Feeney), Doyle (Finnegan), D’arcy.
WEXFORD YOUTHS: J Russell, A Russell, Wadding (Dempsey), Lawlor, Sinnott, Malone, Kelly, O’Loughlin, White, Colfer (Browne), Furlong.
