Byrne Beauty Boosts Mons

[Magicme]

Monaghan United continued their fine run of form with an exciting 3-2 win over Wexford Youths last Friday night in the FAI eircom League of Ireland First Division. Goals from Aaron Mooney, Willie Doyle and Wayne Byrne ensured that Mons came away from the Wexford Youths Football Complex with 3 points, despite Wexford taking an early lead. United’s resolve and skill sealed the win in spite of 4 of their key players missing out on the game due to injury and suspension.

Wexford started the game brightly and came close within minutes of kick off when they won an early throw. Liam O’Loughlin’s throw was neatly controlled by local GAA hero Eric Bradley who showed his fine soccer credentials when he jinked past the defence shooting low across the goal mouth. Monaghan Goalie Alvin Rouse was caught off guard and it was down to Luke Fitzpatrick to clear the ball off the line for a corner.

Wexford’s first corner earned them another corner and they continued to put Monaghan to the wire as they sought a goal. A series of deflections saved United’s blushes until Rouse was able to gather the ball up.

With Rouse’s kick out United headed back up the pitch and Mons had their first chance of the game. Ian McCluskey ran onto the ball and having made great progress up the pitch, sent the ball in to a waiting Jason McCartney. McCartney latched onto the ball in front of goal but Jason Russell, in goals for Wexford, got his fingers to it and sent the ball over the top. With the game now turning in Monaghan’s favour, the Youths were lucky that Russell was able to get to ball when the Monaghan corner took a deflection off a Youth’s player and almost ended up in the back of the net.

Once more Wexford came back at United but with the help of McCluskey, showing fine promise with another run up the pitch, Mons were threatening once more. McCluskey skinned a Youths player before Wexford’s defence were able to shut him down.

Wexford responded and headed for Monaghan’s half but they didn’t get far as United’s midfield stood up to the challenge. As United moved back towards their target, Wexford native Willie Doyle was awarded a free and his screamer of a ball went across the goalmouth and out for a goal kick.

Once more O’Loughlin and Bradley teamed up to bring the game into the grasp of Wexford but once more they were stunted in their attempt by United’s defence. When Wayne Byrne won a free in his own half, Wexford’s Garrett Larkin almost gifted Mons a goal. His mis-kick looked to be heading straight to the feet of the incoming Byrne but somehow the ball was snatched from danger and Wexford headed back up the pitch.

Wexford put the first score on the board in the form of a well taken penalty on the 14th minute. Connor Sinnott was awarded the penalty, and took it, having been brought down by Rouse in the box. The effect of Mons going 1-0 down was immediate and they stepped the game up a gear.

Within a minute McCartney was sending in a well timed cross for Byrne, but the big former Bray Wanderers and Shelbourne player, sent the ball just wide of the target. Wexford tried to make the break but United countered without delay and Fitzpatrick tried to set Andrew Cousins up. Cousins was just unable to get to the ball and it was out for a Wexford throw.

United did not let up however and with a throw won by Paul Whelan, they continued their onslaught on the Wexford goal. McCluskey had a chance as he latched onto a ball that had resulted from some fine flowing Monaghan football. His soft shot was easily caught by Russell. As Wexford seemed to capitulate further, Byrne had another opportunity but his shot was collected by the goalie once more. Two minutes later and Byrne once more looked likely to score. Having taken down a Whelan throw, he was unable to get a clear shot on target in the crowded box and the ball went out for a goal kick.

As Bradley tried again to bring the game back into Wexford’s control, his attempt to pick out a team-mate was intercepted by United. The Youth’s were not to be pushed out of the game however and moments later they were speeding up the wing with intent. United’s Kevin Williamson showed once more why he is considered such a reliable player when he managed to get to the ball at breakneck speed and send it safely back to Rouse.

When Byrne gave away a free kick, Youth’s strung together some creative play. Ex-Waterford United and Limerick player Darren Browne got a head to the free kick and sent the ball out to O’Loughlin, but Mons striker Doyle was able to steal the ball and head up the pitch, winning a throw. As United’s players piled into the Wexford half, Cousins, Whelan & Byrne co-operated well as they bore down on goal. It was not to be however and the ball went out for a Youth’s throw.

Once more United looked the hungrier as they hunted an equaliser. Larkin was booked for a foul on Fitzpatrick and the resulting free, taken by Cousins, was deflected out for a corner. In the 26th minute United’s hard work was rewarded when they found the much deserved equaliser. McCartney and Fitzpatrick combined well to send the ball into the box where the former Bohemians and Kilkenny City centre half, Aaron Mooney, made it 4 goals in 4 games against Wexford. Mooney managed to get his left foot to the ball and send it into the back of the net.

Despite United getting a new lease of life and squandering a chance when Doyle shot wildly over the bar moments after the equaliser, it was not long until Wexford were in front again. Bradley had signalled his intent when he went chasing down a long ball. Luckily for United, Williamson was again on hand and headed the ball down for Rouse to catch, averting a goal. Moments later however, the Youths had the upper hand again.

Patsy Malone, having started the move, headed the ball into the back of the net, with the help of the sprightly Gavin Doyle, shocking the United defence and taking the lead once more. This seemed to spark determination in United and they turned the tables on the Youths. McCluskey sent the ball in for Byrne but once more he missed the target and sent the ball wide.

Undeterred, Byrne, making his first start for United, kept seeking his first goal for the club he joined in July but was unlucky again as the ball went wide. Such was his threat, Youths felt compelled to try and stop the lofty striker in his tracks and one such tackle won him a free. McCartney took and aimed for goal but Russell had the measure of him and saved well. Moments later Byrne was awarded a throw but against the run of play Wexford made off with the ball. Browne passed the ball to O’Loughlin but Mooney showed his competence as he rescued the situation.

Mooney was called into action immediately again when O’Loughlin found Sinnott perched and ready to attack, but Aaron’s clearance was enough to take the pressure off the defence. Some scrappy play with United winning throws and a free, ensued before Whelan and Williamson were forced to clean up as they tried to take control of the game back. Browne endeavoured to go on a run but was stopped in his tracks by the ever present Williamson. Whelan won a free for the Mons but Wexford, in the form of John Flynn O’Connor, had different ideas. Flynn O’Connor had a good chance as there was a clear path to goal but for some unknown reason, he slowed his run and was then dispossessed.

With United keeping the pressure on, they had another shot go wide before Williamson and Cousin had a crack at it. Cousin’s cross was sent back out by Wexford and Fitzpatrick was called upon to intervene on Mons behalf. Fitzpatrick passed to Williamson, who was taken down and given a free which was promptly taken by Cousins. His great strike was well saved by a confident Russell between the Wexford posts.

On the 43rd minute, United got back on par with a well deserved equaliser. Willie Doyle confirmed his goal scoring pedigree when he turned a Byrne cross into the back of the net making the score 2-2. The Youths did not surrender however and as the game went into the dying seconds of the first half, they were frustrated to see the ball ricochet off the post. The teams went in level with United the happier of the two.

[Magicme]

On kick off in the second half, United messed up an early chance and the ball went out for a Wexford goal kick. The Youths then managed to cause panic in the Monaghan box with a long shot catching them on the hop, but the ball went wide much to the defence’s relief.

Byrne, impressing everyone with his skill and agility, teamed up with McCartney as they looked to go in front for the first time. Byrne’s shot went out for a goal kick but his confidence seemed to be growing as he came closer and closer to scoring. Wexford caught Mons on the back foot moments later and Fitzpatrick was called upon to rescue yet again as Youths advanced on goal. Dom Tierney, who had been quietly and calmly working his socks off throughout the game, interceded when things got sticky in the goal mouth and confidently cleared Wexford’s further stab at finding a lead goal.

Malone & O’Loughlin tried to string together an attack but McCluskey managed to get between them and gave away a throw. Youth’s continued to charge forward but Doyle was unsuccessful with his shot following Sinnott’s cross and sent the ball wide. As both sides struggled to make opportunities pay, the midfield battles intensified. Whelan’s opportunistic long shot in was covered by Russell without too much inconvenience but this was the beginning of United’s renewed vigour and they displayed once more their appetite for victory.

Byrne finally got his much merited goal on the hour mark to give United the lead for the first time. McCartney, having set up so many chances throughout the game, provided Byrne with a faultless cross and Byrne made no mistake as heading his name onto the goalscorer’s list for the first time in a Mons jersey.

The wind seemed to be taken out of the Youth’s sails and despite Bradley trying his hardest to equalise, his shot was effortlessly caught by Rouse. Youth’s were met by a stronger United defence in the 2nd half and they just didn’t seem to have the imagination or desire to overcome them, leading to a few half baked attacks. One of their few chances came when Aaron Mooney was booked and the resulting free was floated in for Rouse to pluck out of the sky.

Goalscorer Byrne was replaced by local lad Stephen Finnegan as Mick Cooke introduced fresh legs into the equation with the hopes of going further into the lead. Mick Wallace had a similar notion and replaced Browne and Flynn O’Connor with Marty Kelly and Richard Fitzgerald at the same time. Despite the changes Youth’s didn’t seem likely to equalise even when they won a free and a corner from the subsequent deflection out behind goal. The corner was well taken but the shot was sent well wide of the posts.

United were not content to sit back on their lead and McCartney set up McCluskey as they maintained the pressure by going on the attack. McCluskey was unable to exploit his opening however and Wexford were given a chink of hope as they went on the counterattack. Rouse was ready and waiting for them nevertheless and didn’t break sweat as he caught the ball.

Defensively, Wexford stood up to a battering and United were unable to get a clear shot on goal for the remainder of the match but they did keep trying. The Youth’s nearly rued a sloppy clearance of a McCartney corner as the ball fell into the path of Doyle, but in the skirmish the ball was sent over the bar.

Rouse was called in to action a few more times before the game was over but the reliable ‘keeper kept his cool and caught ball after ball. United wasted a free and Whelan had to work hard to salvage the situation. He sent a long ball in for Doyle, but Willie was unable to make it.

Wexford seemed to be getting their act together again as the game came to a close but United’s goalkeeper Rouse guaranteed his team all 3 points by punching out a last gasp shot just as the referee called a halt to the game.

This was a fine team performance from United as they proved that the squad that Mick has built have the depth of talent to cope with injury crisis such as he faced going into this game. With talent like Byrne, McCluskey and Finnegan on the bench, Mick has more dependable options than ever when selecting his team.

Wexford Youths: J Russell, Larkin (Colfer 89), A Russell, Doyle, Malone, O'Loughlin, Bradley, Browne (Kelly 70), Sinnott, Flynn-O'Connor (Fitzgerald 70).
Monaghan United: Rouse, Whelan, Williamson, Fitzpatrick, Mooney, Tierney, McCluskey, Cousins, Byrne (Finnegan 70), Doyle, McCartney.
Referee: R Rogers (Dublin).