Monaghan United took their chances well in a very physical FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division game against Kilkenny City winning 3 nil. Goals from Brian Gannon (24th), Robbie Farrell (54th) and Jason McCartney (73rd) sealed the win for an on form United.
Monaghan debuted Luke Fitzpatrick and goal scorer Jason McCartney and both players were central to United’s excellent win. Luke was solid from the word go and backtracked fast on many occasions to rescue United from any Kilkenny onslaughts. Jason McCartney wowed the home crowd with an amazing display of flicks and back heels setting the tone of the game where United were the cream that rose to the top.
United came close within 2 minutes of kick off when Robbie Farrell was taken down just inside the Kilkenny half. Kevin Williamson took the free but was unable to convert. A few minutes later another free was won on the edge of the box but the shot was deflected out for a Kilkenny throw.
Kevin Williamson hooked up with McCartney passing the ball with accuracy. McCartney was under pressure but kept cool and back-heeled the ball to Williamson, unfortunately Williamson was unable to do anything with it. Kilkenny came back at United but when they won a free they missed their chance and Mons ‘keeper Alvin Rouse had no problems snatching the ball out of the air.
Kilkenny made another attempt on United’s goal and looked like they might make the breakthrough as United’s Rouse fumbled Martin Tynan’s shot. Rouse composed himself and got to the ball before it could rebound back to Tynan.
Paul Whelan made a mad dash up the pitch with Rouse’s kicked out ball and was taken down on the edge of the box winning a free. Ex-Sligo Rovers player McCartney took a blasting free and the ball bounced off the inside of the far post and back out for a corner. In the post-corner scuffle, it looked like Willie Doyle might add to his United tally but he was pushed back by the strong Kilkenny defence.
Monaghan were given a scare in the 20th minute when Rouse had to jump high to cover a ball that skimmed the crossbar when United failed to clear a threatening ball from Kilkenny. As United came back at the Cats, Brian Gannon took his chance well and slotted the ball past Anthony Fennelly when he mishandled a Whelan cross putting United in the lead.
As United continued to play some beautiful passing football, Williamson, having skinned 2 players after collecting the ball from another McCartney back-flick, sent the ball across the net but none of the on-running United players were able to make it in time.
The second half saw a continuation of a truly joint team effort and there were some outstanding moments including an overhead kick by Fitzpatrick when clearing his lines which he sent flying up the pitch towards Whelan. Whelan tried his hardest to get onto the end of the ball and won Mons a corner. Kilkenny defended the corner well and it wasn’t until United won a throw that Darren Meenan got his chance to shine in the game.
Meenan took the throw and found a waiting Whelan. Whelan passed to Farrell who found a speeding Meenan coming his way and delivered the ball to his feet. Meenan was quickly surrounded by Kilkenny defenders and the ball went out for a corner. The set piece was wasted by United but in the 54th minute Mons stretched their lead when joint league top goalscorer Robbie Farrell made no mistake as he sent the ball whistling into the back of the net. Farrell had been wide awake when Gannon sent in the cross and punished Kilkenny’s defence with the swiftness of his goal.
With United 2 nil up, they were able to take their foot off the pedal a little and let the game slow down. Kilkenny looked like they might get back into the game when a mistake by Whelan almost gifted them a goal but luckily Barry Burke was on hand to help out the under pressure Whelan.
It was as if Mons decided suddenly that they wanted more goals and they stepped up a gear again punishing City at every turn. A United corner was badly defended and Mons were given a free on the edge of the box. New signing McCartney stepped forward and powerhoused the ball into the back of the net lobbing Fennelly on the way making it 3-0 to United on the 73rd minute and ensuring that his debut will live long in the hearts of the fans.
Unfortunately, moments later McCartney’s delight turned to dismay as he suffered a nasty injury to his ankle and had to be stretchered off to hospital. McCartney’s departure allowed another new signing his debut as Darren O’Connor took to the pitch to replace him.
Kilkenny didn’t give up though and gave United a game to the bitter end, but there was no way for them to break down the stalwart defence. As time ticked away, United were content to play in the middle of the park knowing that they had secured the maximum points and yet another high scoring victory.
Next up for Mons is a trip to Ballybofey on Tuesday to play 4th placed Finn Harps and a win or draw there will set United up nicely for the local derby against Dundalk next Friday.
Monaghan United: Rouse, Whelan, Williamson, Burke, Fitzpatrick ( McCluskey 75), McCartney (O’Connor 79), Meenan, Tierney, Farrell, Doyle (Byrne 63), Gannon.
Killkenny City: Fennelly, Fogarty, Loughnane (O’Brien 55), Fitzgerald (Tyrrell 45), Ryan, O’Shea, Comfort, Grant, Tynan, McNicholas (Kiely 31), Barnes.
