It looked like United might steal a quick goal on the resumption of the game after the break as sloppy Dundalk defending presented United with a corner from the kick off. Mons were incapable to make the chance work for them and suffered as Dundalk came full charge at them. There were some heartstopping moments for the home fans as Dundalk squeezed United well back into their own half but no matter what they threw at them, United’s defence always got in the way. Rouse got caught up in the melee at one point as he came out to catch the ball and Paul Marney could have been the hero as he took his shot, but D’arcy got a head to it to keep the Mons out of danger.
A Robbie Dunne throw landed sweetly for Hughes but Fitzpatrick was wise to the impending danger and got the ball our for a corner. United cleared the corner but not well enough and Stephen Quigley was able to send the ball back in. Unfortunately he set Robbie Doyle up, who was having a nightmare of a game, and Doyle disappointed again.
An offside call put a halt to a promising looking Mons push and Dundalk were straight back up the pitch. The lilywhites were awarded a free on the edge of the box but again Doyle’s shot was mopped up by United in the form of Williamson.
The ineffectual Hughes teamed up with Quigley moments later when Quigley took a throw but between them they sent the ball out giving United a throw. Smelling the weakening of the Dundalk side, Meenan scurried up the wing past 2 defenders before sending a blistering cross in for Farrell. This time Farrell was unable to connect with the ball.
Brian Gannon continued to highlight what an asset he is to the United squad as he managed to get back to help protect his team’s net. Hughes showed his first flare of the game when he chested the ball down feeding it to Doyle. The number 9 did well and sent the ball to Dunne, who in turn located Quigley. As Quigley closed in on the United box he passed to Marney who set Doyle up on goal. Rouse earned his wages well as he got a hand to the speeding Doyle ball sending it out for the corner.
Dundalk’s lack of control of the set piece cost them a valuable chance to punish the United defence and the battle moved back to the midfield with Williamson & Dunne squaring up well to each other. As Dundalk scampered goalbound, Rouse was once more on hand to scoop up the ball without too much trouble.
Despite Dundalk managing to close down almost every route for United out of their own half, they underestimated the nippy Meenan moves. Meenan skipped around them and headed up the pitch. He won a free which led to a corner & put the Dundalk side under pressure. The corner was unimpressive and Gallagher caught it well.
Once more Dundalk were on the offensive and used United’s back four’s mistakes to hunt for the elusive goal. During an unrelenting few minutes of Dundalk pressure, United were thankful for Rouse’s talent at rising above the crowds of players to pluck the ball from the sky. Within a minute Hughes finally looked like he would score as he closed in on goal but the determined Williamson and Fitzpatrick had other ideas and shut him off and dispossessed him in the box.
The resolve of the United team was evident when Farrell & D’arcy prepared another assault on the visitors goal. D’arcy managed to stay on the ball despite being jostled by the defence but the referee gave a free to Dundalk. As they tried to make this chance count, Hughes was knocked off the ball on the edge of the box and they were given an even better opportunity. They didn’t reckon on Rouse’s talent however as the Mons goalie made a terrific save of Crawley’s free as the ball came through the wall.
At this point United seemed to be happy to settle for the point as they were pushed by the resolute Dundalk. The defence stood up to each test however and the closest they came to taking the lead was with a well taken Dunne free. Once more Fitzpatrick turned iceman as he coolly cleared the danger.
Just when it looked like United’s luck would run out, up popped Willie Doyle with a goal to give hope. In the 80th minute Doyle’s calculated shot rendered Dundalk speechless as it bounded over the line following confusion from the back four and goal keeper. Spurred on by the inspiring goal, United kept Dundalk on their toes and pushed forward again. However, Dundalk were not ready to roll over and play dead just yet but they showed they were rattled when another peach of an opportunity passed them by. O’Connor was caught in the offside trap as they tried to find the equaliser and it was on the break that United nailed the coffin shut.
Following a fine, hard working performance from Farrell, he had the pleasure of setting his team mate Doyle up for his brace. Farrell and Doyle made it look easy as they glided into the box and Doyle tucked the ball neatly in the net. An ecstatic home crowd were to their feet, as were the flabbergasted away fans who decided with 5 minutes to go there was no reason to stick around for the final whistle and United battled on proving their recent run of form was not a fluke.
The game finished 2-0 to United and a deflated looking Dundalk exited Kingspan Century Park like pretenders to the First Division throne.
Monaghan United: Rouse; Gannon, Fitzpatrick, Mooney, Williamson; Meenan, Tierney, Burke, D'Arcy; Farrell, Doyle.
Dundalk: Gallagher; Quigley (Perth 72), Lynch, Crawley, Grimes; Marney, O'Connor, Dunne, Hand (Doran 77), Doyle (Vaughan 64), Hughes.
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