With only 15 seconds on the clock, Monaghan United were on the back foot in their FAI eircom League of Ireland first division game against Finn Harps last Sunday. Conor Gethins took everyone by surprise when, without United getting a touch of the ball, Gethins had the ball in the back of the net. Gethins came close a few seconds later when he had beaten Alvin Rouse and a backtracking Luke Fitzpatrick but the goalpost came to United’s rescue.
United tried to play some of passing football as they settled into the game but they were constantly under pressure from the oncoming Harps. On the 6th minute it looked like United might just force themselves well into the Harps half when Paul Whelan collected a weak Harps cross and sent it out for Robbie Farrell. Farrell was unable to contain it and gave the ball away. United continued to try and redeem their early mistakes and Kevin Williamson showed why he is a possible Player of the Year when he dummied his way past Harps players before passing with accuracy to Jason McCartney. McCartney was quickly shut down but managed to win a throw.
As United won another throw, Williamson found Dom Tierney, another of United’s hardest working players. Tierney send the ball to Brian Gannon who sent the ball to Willie Doyle. Doyle was unable to do anything with it bar passing to McCartney. McCartney was quickly surrounded again and Harps were back up the pitch again ending United’s strongest challenge.
United again tried to break the deadlock on the 11th minute when McCartney tried to set Farrell up but in his eagerness Farrell over ran and was unable to collect. McCartney tried again within moments but his cross went out for a goal kick.
Gethins and Stephen Parkhouse combined well to give United another scare with 13 minutes gone. Parkhouse, having beaten Gannon on the wing, crossed the ball in for Gethins but the ball was too long and went out for a goal kick.
Just when it seemed United were getting things together to launch another attack, Williamson and Wayne Byrne with the help of Tierney were unlucky to have their play shut down, Harps showed they had other ideas. Having won a free and then a corner they came close to scoring only that Byrne got to the ball and managed to clear it for a Harps throw. Tony Shields tried to cross the ball in but Tierney stood up to the challenge and won a throw.
On the 25th minute, Harps went 2-0 up when Gethins set Eloka Asokuh up on goal. The number 2 surprised even himself as he watched his low slung shot slide into the back of the net. United again tried to take control of the game at this point and James Gallagher was forced to make a save as United came back at them with a never say die attitude.
United had most of the possession for the remainder of the 1st half but they were just unable to break through the strength of the Finn Harps defence and struggled to get out of the midfield. A Gannon run up the wing incorporating some great passing football set Farrell up but he was deemed offside was the closest they would come for the remainder of the half.
Shaun Holmes took up the mantle of provider when he hurried down the wing and tried to cross the ball into the box. The ball took a deflection off a Mons player and Harps had a corner which Rouse duly plucked out of the sky.
With Gethins on the hunt for his 2nd goal, the usually calm Fitzpatrick battled hard but put in his tackle from behind. He was given a yellow card and Harps won a free near the edge of the box for his troubles. Shaun Holmes took the free but sent it high over the bar.
Despite a brave Gannon attempt to save United’s bacon when Gethins was on for goal again, the ball was not cleared properly and fell to Parkhouse who causally poked the ball into the back of the net. With Finn Harps 3-0 up with 33 minutes on the clock, it was very difficult for United to stay motivated but they did not give up. Every time they had the ball the Mons were surrounded by a sea of yellow jerseys but Gannon somehow managed to get a shot on target but Gallagher was well up to the job and caught it.
On the 36th minute United were lucky not to go 4 down when Williamson managed to clear the ball from the line when Rouse was not able to get a hold of an on target ball. The first half ended with a disheartened Monaghan team trailing 4-0.
Within 2 minutes of the game resuming Gethins sowed up the win for Harps when he took full advantage of a defensive mix up between Fitzpatrick and Rouse. At 4-0 there was no comeback for United but they continued to try and bring some smiles to the home support.
Harps put Monaghan under more pressure forcing Farrell and Byrne to act defensively and clear the ball from 2 attacks. Gannon won a free kick in a melee following a Mons throw in but McCartney was not able to make the most of it as his free was cleared by the confident Harps defence.
Mons keeper Rouse was called into action again on the 56th minute when he did well to prevent Parkhouse from claiming a brace and giving Harps 5 goals. As Mons battled on in vain, Williamson made Gallagher stretch 2 get to his stinging shot.
United continued to try and break down the defence and won another free. Byrne had his header in cleared but not out far enough and United were back on the ball. Fitzpatrick sent in a snappy shot but it was cleared again. It seemed like United were stepping up a gear as Harps seemed to be taking it easier. Gethins was still search of a hattrick though but Rouse managed to gather up his shot. This was followed by more half hearted attempts by Harps who knew the points were in the bag and Rouse had the measure of the rest of their shots.
It looked like United may just claw one back when former Harps player Darren Meenan combined with Byrne and Farrell in pushing forward. Their link up resulted in a corner which McCartney promptly took but Gallagher was waiting to catch it as it went straight to him.
United seemed to be working better as a unit in the 2nd half and were letting the Donegal men through less while pushing forward for a consolation goal. Last gasp goal scorer from the Kilkenny game, Andy Cousins, who had come on in place of an injured Doyle, looked like he might just pull one out of the bag again, but his free kick went well over the bar.
On the 78th minute Harps went close again, but once more the goal post was United’s friend and kept the ball out. Anthony Breslin, making his senior debut for United, had a chance on the 83rd minute but his cross was scooped up by Gallagher.
As United tried to push forward, Harps went on the break with substitute Chris Breen and Shaun McGowan trying to get on the scoresheet. Williamson and Whelan however managed to block their attempts to keep the score at 4-0. As the game came to a conclusion, Harps were again trying to squeeze United but they could not find a 5th goal and were happy to go home as 4-0 victors.
Monaghan United: Rouse; Gannon, Fitzpatrick, Whelan, Williamson; Byrne, Tierney, Meenan (Breslin 80), McCartney; Farrell, Doyle (Cousins 40)
Finn Harps: Gallagher; Asokuh, McLaughlin, Holmes, Minnock; Funston, McGowan, Shields (O’Loughlin 51) , Divin; Parkhouse (Brown 62), Gethins (Breen 70).
Referee: D Tomney (Meath).
