SHELBOURNE 2 -1 MONAGHAN UNITED

Airtricity League – Premier Division
Shelbourne 2 – 0 Monaghan United
It took Monaghan 30 minutes to get into this game and by that stage was fortunate not to be at least two goals down. Shelbourne on the other hand came out firing on all cylinders and with scarcely 30 seconds elapsed they had forced the first of three quick corners from which Philly Gorman hit the crossbar and Conor Mc Mahon denied Philly Hughes with a goal line clearance. What followed was a half hour of dreadful football from both sides with the ball being hoofed in the air up and down the field. Monaghan United didn’t have a strike at goal until Shaun Maher in 32 minute and that was well wide of the goal. Shelbourne were looking more dangerous, Brian Shorthall shot narrowly wide from 25 yards after 20 minutes, two minutes later Paddy Kavanagh was put straight through but he struck directly at the keeper, then Anto Murphy had a speculative strike from the wing which had the keeper Schlingermann scrambling across goal. Finally after the half hour mark United got into the game and for the remaining 15 minutes they played some delightful football but unfortunately they couldn’t get in close where it might hurt and Conor Murphy lacked support up front. Jordan Keegan hit a powerful strike on goal for United on 35 minutes but it was well off target. The last two opportunities of the half fell to Shel’s Kavanagh but his effort was also off target and then on 43 minutes David Cassidy hit the crossbar..
It was a very much improved performance from United in the second half right from the restart they took the game to Shels, Robert Bayly replaced Dan Mc Guinness, after 7 minutes they forced their first corner of the game which Jordan Keegan took. The ball was blocked back out to him at the corner flag, he prevented it from going behind for a corner and advanced into the area, having rounded Sean Byrne and the defender grounded him near the end line and the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot and Willo Mc Donagh converted the spot kick to give United a surprise lead. United upped the tempo in going for a second, Jordan Keegan was causing Shels defence all kinds of trouble with some powerful runs with the ball right through them. United’s lead only lasted eight minutes, Shels cleared the ball down the right out of defence, Philly Hughes crossed the ball to David Cassidy and he in turned picked out Paddy Kavanagh six yards in front of goal for an easy finish, at that point in the game the score was very much against the run of play. United tried hard for the equaliser but again they were caught on the counter attack. Shels advanced down the left the ball was swung across field to David Cassidy unmarked 40 yards out, United’s keeper Schlingermann was caught in two minds and in no-mans land, Cassidy advanced before easily lobbing the ball over the keeper to double the lead. Shels should have put the game out of United’s reach after Hughes crossed to Cassidy and he set up Sean Byrne who should have redeemed himself for the earlier concession of the penalty but scuffed his chance. Willo Mc. Donagh was denied by a good save from the keeper. The last action of the game was a brilliant goal line save from Darragh Reynor to deny a certain Philly Hughes goal.
On their second half performance United deserved a share of the spoils
Shelbourne: Dean Delany; Gareth Matthews, Brian Shorthall, Andy Boyle, Sean Byrne; David Cassidy (Kevin Dawson, 90), Glen Cronin, Paddy Kavanagh, Anto Murphy (John Sullivan, 84); Philip Gorman, Philip Hughes
Subs not used: Paul Skinner, Conan Byrne, Barry Clancy, Paul Byrne, Ian Ryan
Bookings: David Cassidy (41)
Monaghan United: Michael Shlingerman; Shaun Maher, Conor McMahon, Aidan Collins, Paul Whelan (Darragh Reynor, 21); Jordan Keegan, Bobby Ryan (Owen Humphrey, 76), Danny McGuinness (Robert Bayly, 45), Stephen Maher; Willo McDonagh, Conor Murphy
Subs not used: Conor Forde, Roddy Collins, Tony Griffiths, Jason Marks
Bookings: Willo McDonagh (68)
Referee: Graham Kelly
Attendance: 805