Longford Town 0-3 Monaghan United

• Deniese O'Flaherty
• Sat, May 22 2010


Monaghan United got back to winning ways and in doing so moved back up the table courtesy of a 3-0 win over Longford Town at Flancare Park on Friday night.

The result somewhat flattered the visitors but they took their chances and that proved decisive in the end. The other difference between the sides was Mons keeper Gabriel Sava who was in inspirational form; thwarting the Town on several occasions.

Town manager Tony Cousins has said in the past that he hopes to freshen things up in the transfer window. The way things are going at the moment will he actually be around to make those changes. Supporters are growing increasingly frustrated, with a chorus of boos ringing round after the full-time whistle.

The visitors enjoyed the better of the early exchanges and in the 10th minute Alan Byrne was unlucky not to find the target with his header. Seven minutes later they broke the deadlock. Stefan McKevitt’s pinpoint cross from the right, albeit after a foul throw, was powerfully headed home by Karl Bermingham.

This spurred the home side into action and they took a hold on proceedings. Philip Byrne should’ve done better when he had a chance in the 23rd minute; after starting the move off with a surging run, the defender laid the ball to Peter Hynes who in turn found Dave Freeman. Freeman’s header was flicked on for Byrne but he stumbled in the box and Mons were able to clear.

Two minutes later the home side created another opportunity. Craig Mooney’s free-kick met the head of Freeman but his effort was deflected out for a corner. From Ryan McEvoy’s corner Byrne’s header at the far post went wide. The Town’s best chance of the half fell just after the half hour. A Chris Deans cross met the head of Hynes but his glancing effort was superbly pushed away by the diving Gabriel Sava. A few moments later McEvoy’s corner caused problems in a crowded box but the Town just couldn’t get a shot on target.

After being out of the game since the opening goal Mons had a great chance to double their advantage just before the break. Anthony Costigan found Cathal O’Connor but the nifty winger’s effort just went agonisingly wide. The Town started the second half well with Mark Salmon trying his luck with a low drive from about 25 yards out in the 53rd minute.

Five minutes later and Sava pulled off a fantastic save, this time acrobatically tipping over McEvoy’s close range header. Sava’s save was the turning point of the game and in the 61st minute the Town received a sucker punch when totally against the run of play Mons went 2-0 up. The normally reliable Philip Byrne completely missed O’Connor’s excellent cross into the box, the ball fell to Barry Clancy and he made no mistake.

That goal totally deflated Longford and they just couldn’t find a way of getting back into the game. 10 minutes from time second half substitute Philip Hughes grabbed his side’s third of the night with a curling shot from the edge of the box. Derek Glynn had a chance to pull a goal back for the Town in the 83rd minute but after beating Sava he dragged his shot wide. It summed up the Town’s night.

Longford Town: Aaron Shanahan, Chris Deans, Philp Byrne, John Lester, Kevin Cronin (Mike Lee 63'), Cathal Brady (Fiachra McArdle 55'), Mark Salmon, Craig Mooney, Ryan McEvoy, Peter Hynes (Derek Glynn 42'), Dave Freeman.
Subs Not used: Thomas Hyland, Stephen Conlon.
Yellow card: Mike Lee

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Anthony Costigan, Aidan Collins, Stefan McKevitt, Conor McMahon, Don Tierney, Cathal O’Connor (Philip Hughes 71'), Alan Byrne, Karl Bermingham (Daragh Hanaphy 84'), Sean Brennan, Barry Clancy.
Subs Not used: Dean McMahon and James Clark

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Monaghan)
Attendance: 140
Extratime Man of the Match: Gabriel Sava (Monaghan Utd)