Monaghan United 1 - 0 Athlone Town

• Peter Hughes
• Fri, Aug 05 2011


Monaghan United maintained their pursuit of Cork City in the race for the second automatic promotion berth in the Airtricity League First Division with this single-goal victory over Athlone Town at Gortakeegan – but it was a close-run thing against a much improved side that might have taken at least a share of the spoils had their initial approach been as attacking as the manner in which they concluded the game.

Town began the match with Jason Hughes as the lone attacker in front of a five man midfield, a cagey approach that was rendered redundant in the 10th minute when United solved the puzzle Mike Kerley had attempted to fox them with.

John Reilly set the move in motion, but it was Sean Brennan who was chief architect, gliding into the box before a slide-rule pass allowed Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien to find the net from close range despite keeper Michael Schlingermann’s attempt to block the shot.

Schlingermann did well to keep out a cheeky Keith Quinn chip in the 18th minute, but a lapse by Shane Grimes gave Town their first attacking opportunity, Conor Kavanagh freeing Jason Hughes but Eric Foley producing a magnificent tackle to relieve the danger for the Mons. It was nip and tuck for a time after that, Athlone full-back Decy Fallon unleashing a fine drive that looked bound for the top corner before Alan Byrne’s glancing headed touch diverted it away from goal.

The impressive Quinn unloaded from 30 yards in the 33rd minute, drawing an athletic diving save from Schlingermann. Five minutes later, United should have doubled their advantage. Eric Foley carved a space through the heart of the Town defence for O’Brien to exploit, but the striker blazed his shot off the crossbar when a more deft touch would have more than sufficed. A minute later O’Brien threatened from a more difficult opportunity, meeting Sean Brennan’s cross on the run with a rising drive that was just too high of the target.

The tempo of an always entertaining game increased further in the second half, with Town boss Kerley making a succession of attacking substitutions in search of the equaliser and United continuing to pour forward on the hunt for the insurance goal.

In a flurry of Mons pressure, a spectacular Jordan Keegan volley was only kept out by brave defending from Paul Danaher, with Shane Grimes unleashing a fierce shot from the loose ball that Schlingermann saved outstandingly. Alan Byrne drove wide from a corner and Keegan strafed the face of the goal with a shot on the run as Roddy Collins’ men took control.

But Town’s more expansive approach began to yield dividends. A fine David Ryan cross was seized on by substitute Noel McGee, whose drive goalwards saw Alan Byrne produce a brave saving block. Mark Sherlock combined with Wayne Colbert to create an opening for Ryan but Aidan Collins cleared the danger for United.

Sean Brennan had the ball in the net for the Mons in the 79th minute but he had manhandled Joe Woods in order to gain possession and the strike was never going to stand. A lively last ten minutes saw chances on both sides. Athlone’s Sherlock sent a powerful shot just past the post, while a surging run from United substitute Michael Isichei won a corner from which O’Brien headed wide.

Jason Hughes drove just over the bar from distance for Town as the minutes ebbed out, and for United more great work from Isichei was undone when David Byrne hit a weak shot straight at Schlingermann.

Monaghan United: Sava; Whelan (Isichei 68), A Byrne, A Collins, Grimes; Reilly, Foley, Quinn, Keegan (Marks 90+2); O’Brien (D Byrne 86), S Brennan.

Athlone Town: Shlingermann; Fallon (Higgins 74), Woods, Danaher, Carr; Colbert, Kavanagh (Sherlock 69), Relihan (McGee 56), Ryan, Williamson; Hughes.

Referee: C Fitzgerald