Monaghan United 3 - 0 Salthill Devon

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, Jul 02 2010


Monaghan United nudged back into the promotion places in the Airtricity League First Division by strolling to a 3-0 victory over Salthill Devon at Gortakeegan.

Karl Bermingham had curled a delicious shot on the run just wide and Philly Hughes had also come close before the Mons registered their early dominance on the scoreboard in the 12th minute. Sean Brennan swept in a pinpoint cross from the left wing and midfielder Alan Byrne powered into the box to head home.

Salthill, with Mike Kennedy more often than not ploughing a lonely furrow up front, mustered little in response but Monaghan in truth were often lethargic. The game had lapsed into a trough of dullness before Sean Brennan enlivened it with a great 32nd minute free-kick.

The Monaghan attacker spotted Devon keeper Ronan Forde move off his line and way to the right in anticipation of a cross, and cleverly spun the free directly into the net. United lost Aidan Collins and Niall Flynn to injury in the first half but coped with the resultant readjustments comfortably. They were unlucky not to have extended their lead by half-time, Stephen McCrossan and Alan Byrne again coming close.

The visitors’ best moment of the game came in the 57th minute. Substitute Daryl Horgan collected from his defence and ran the length of the pitch before slipping Shane Browne through on goal.

Browne rushed his finish, however, and drove past the post from an eminently scoreable position. Devon were soon back on the defensive. Forde had to make an adroit reaction save to deny Barry Clancy on 66 minutes, and soon after Byrne, imperious in the air once more, cracked a header off the top of the crossbar.

Darragh Hanaphy’s late introduction for Brennan pepped up the Monaghan performance, and a combination with Hughes saw the sub sweep a shot just over the crossbar. Two minutes from the end of normal time, Karl Bermingham’s forceful run ended with him being brought down in the box. From the resultant penalty, Bermingham drove his shot straight down the middle to seal as comfortable a home victory as the Mons have enjoyed this campaign.

Monaghan United: Sava; McMahon, Flynn (McCrossan 39), Gartland, Costigan; Collins (Clancy 7), Tierney, Byrne, Bermingham; Brennan (Hanaphy 80), Hughes.
Subs not used: Clarke, Grimes.

Salthill Devon: Forde; Whelan, Murphy, Geraghty, O Leidhinn; Boyle (Marienek 63), McConnell, Porter, Gaffney (D Horgan 47); Kennedy (C Horgan 72), Browne.
Subs not used: Burke, Stenson.

Referee: Phil Cashera