MONAGHAN UNITED 0 – 4 ST PATRICKS ATHLETIC

Airtricity League – Premier Division
Monaghan United 0 – 4 St Patrick Athletic
Despite the score line Monaghan United were in this game with a chance of a share of the spoils until in 83rd minute when Jake Kelly scored his first of a brace. Monaghan United’s supporters still wait seeing the first home win of the league. After their excellent performances in the preceding three games this was a most disappointing result.
From the outset St Patrick’s Athletic dominated territory and possession. It took some excellent defending from United’s back four together with a couple of fine saves from the keeper Chris Bennion to deny the visitors until the 35th minute. It was a former United player Darren Meenan who had the opening two chances for St Pats. Christy Fagan who broke the deadlock had two great chances before he got the opening goal, on the first occasion he got behind the defence but Bennion advanced from his line and the striker lobbed the ball too high and then with a brilliant tackle from Paul Whelan 10 yards out disposed him when he had an empty net to strike at. For the goal some poor defending from United combined with an inch perfect chipped pass from John Russell set Fagan up and he coolly slotted the ball past Bennion. The score followed the only real piece of pressure from United in the opening half, some determined play from Keith Quinn forced the first corner of the game. Within a minute of Fagan scoring St. Pats should have doubled their lead were it not for a brilliant save from Bennion to deny Ger O’ Brien from close range. In the 40th minute Tony Griffith had a good opportunity from 18 yards but his strike lacked both power and conviction. In the closing minutes of the half St Pats came close twice, again Bennion denied them saving from Greg Bolger and then john Russell shot across goal only to see his attempt graze the foot of the woodwork.
On the resumption of the second half it was more of the same from the visitors and it took some desperate defending to keep the score line down to the one goal. But as the half progressed St Pats seemed to fade and although not creating any real pressure up front nonetheless United came more into it. United’s manager Roddy Collins emptied his bench which seemed to bring a bit more spirit to his side. Michael Isichei replaced Owen Humphry, Bobby Ryan for Rod Collins and Conor Murphy for Anthony Griffiths. Indeed Murphy was the one player who caused St Pats any problems and one wondered had he come on sooner than 71 minutes what might he have achieved. St Pats were not creating near as many chances as in the first half but Fagan continued to threat and Darren Meenan was also a menace. But the introduction of Jake Kelly for Pat’s in 62 minute would spoil the evening for United’s fans. Just when it looked like United might get something from the game Kelly struck twice in a little over two minutes to put the game beyond reach and in 89th minute the performance was embellished with a strike from Greg Bolger who had threated all evening and finally made the score sheet.
Once again the old malaise of finishing returned, United more than matched St Pats in defence and in the middle of the field but unfortunately without having to make anything resembling a save in this game Brendan Clarke in the Pats goal was a mere spectator. In the cup game against Sligo Rovers, United proved that they can both create and score but it’s not consistent enough.
We have a break from domestic soccer due to the summer break and European Finals, we now look forward to the July window when hopefully a few new signings can be made.
Monaghan United: Chris Bennion; Alan Byrne, Roddy Collins (Bobby Ryan 65), Conor McMahon, Paul Whelan; Owen Humphrey (Michael Isichei 53), Willo McDonagh, Keith Quinn, Darragh Reynor; Tony Griffiths (Conor Murphy 71), Jason Marks.
Subs Not Used: Aidan Collins, Shane Dunne, Micheal Schlingermann.
St. Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Ger O’Brien, Kenny Browne, Conor Kenna, Ian Bermingham; Greg Bolger, Darren Meenan, Sean O’Connor (Jake Kelly 61), John Russell, Jake Carroll; Christy Fagan (Dean Kelly 78).
Subs Not Used: Ryan Coombes, Ian Daly, Pat Flynn, Barry Murphy, Aidan Price.
Referee: Neil Doyle.