Monaghan United 2 - 1 Wexford Youths

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, Apr 22 2011


Brothers in arms Ryan and Sean Brennan supplied the goals that ensured Monaghan United maintained their impressive early season momentum in the Airtricity League First Division – but Wexford Youths may well bemoan the lack of ambition with which they embarked on this visit to Gortakeegan.

Youths, in contrast to the adventurous spirit that accompanied them to the Mons’ venue on previous seasons, parked the bus for the early period of the game but, when forced out of their defensive carapace by the accuracy of the brothers Brennan, they finished the game much the stronger, Danny Furlong pulling one back and only being denied a late, late equaliser by a goal-line clearance from Paul Whelan.

Youths’ initial lack of ambition seemed to disconcert Roddy Colllins’ side and although dominating possession they laboured to create first-half chances, dangerman Sean Brennan shackled by double, and at times triple, marking and Michael Isichei looking ill-at-ease as the replacement for the suspended Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien.

Half-cleared corners gave half-chances to Kevin Rowe and Ben Ryan but the Youths were mostly content to soak up the United pressure. It took to the 35th minute for the home side to fashion a decent chance, Shane Grimes crossing for Isichei to send in a stooping header which Packie Holden saved well.

Five minutes from the interval United made the breakthrough. A wonderful cross field ball from Shane Grimes liberated John Reilly, who flashed a cross from the by-line that was powered in off the post by the head of Ryan Brennan.

The second half was five minutes old when brother Sean seized the limelight, striking a magnificent free-kick from 30 yards that blazed past the outstretched hands of Holden. The Mons suddenly looked to be on easy street, but they gave the Youths an unexpected lifeline in the 64th minute with some sleepwalking defending, allowing Dave Grincell to clip in a cross from the right and Danny Furlong to finish from close range.

The United response was exactly what manager Collins, prowling the technical area in sudden anxiety, would have wanted. Whelan got his head to a Sean Brennan corner only for Anthony Wolfe to clear off the line, and John Reilly had what looked a decent penalty claim turned down as he sought to profit from Isichei’s strafing cross.

But Youths were infused with a new belief and they finished the match strongly, Ryan forcing a good save from Gabriel Sava and generally becoming an increasingly threatening presence down the left wing.

Two minutes from time, Ryan turned Whelan with ease and worked the ball across the goal for Furlong whose shot was bound for the bottom corner until Whelan somehow recovered to dart back and clip the effort away from the line.

Monaghan United: Sava; Whelan, Collins, McMahon, Grimes (Rogers 71); Reilly, R Brennan, Foley (Tierney 74), Marks; Isichei, S Brennan (Byrne 89).
Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Haran, Rossiter, Fallon.

Wexford Youths: Holden; Kehoe, Keogh, Wolfe, McCurtin; Ryan, Yelverton, Wall, Rowe (S Nolan 57); Furlong, Grincell (Walsh 79).
Subs not used: Mullen, Kinsella, Broaders.

Referee: Conor Fitzgerald