As in the drawn game Carlow were first to hit the front with a goal as early as the 5^th minute, United's Brian Gartland took down Greg Sykula in the penalty area and Adam Byrne converted the spot kick. Instead of the score inspiring the underdogs it kick started United resulting in wave after wave of attack by the home side. Great efforts from Alan Byrne, Cathal O' Connor, Sean Brennan and the best off all falling to Don Tierney were thwarted on each occasion by an inform keeper Gavin Dowling.

In the end United had to rely on a penalty to get them back on par. Sean Brennan was pushed over in the square and Karl Bermingham made no mistake from the spot kick. United continued to press and a great move between Cathal O' Connor and Sean Brennan was terminated by another excellent save from the keeper.

From inside his own half Sean Brennan found Philip Hughes on the halfway line, Hughes who could never be described as a sprinter darted forward with the ball out pacing everyone and blasted the ball past the keeper for a great individual score on 40 minutes. In the last five minutes United endeavoured to put the game out of Carlow's reach and there best chance came in the final minute from a Hughes's 20 yards free but again the keeper was equal to it.

The first chance of the second half fell to Alan Byrne who came close, then after some good control work Karl Bermingham passed to Brennan and from 10 yards out his strike went past the post. Alan Byrne who was playing a stormer had another good headed attempt. The keeper made another fine save from Cathal O'Connor, then Sean Brennan had a Frank Lampard moment when he crashed the ball off the underside of the crossbar with unfortunately the same result and decision as the Englishman.

Then it looked like Philly Hughes was going to repeat his feat of the first half when he raced forward unfortunately he was coming in at an angle and the keeper forced him into hitting the side netting. Cathal O' Connor was the next player denied by the custodian when he scrambled O' Connor's strike off the goal line.

Carlow's James Dermody brought a good save out of United's keeper and indeed in spite of all United's pressure and possession Carlow came close to getting back on terms in the 89^th minute when the ball was bobbing around the area following a corner kick with several players having attempts before the ball was scrambled out for a another corner. Alan Byrne who had one of his best games in an United jersey was voted by the media as man of the match, everywhere the action was he was in the middle of it and were it not for the inform keeper who ran him close for the award Byrne could have scored at least two goals.

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Aidan Collins, Anthony Costigan, Conor McMahon, Brian Gartland, Don Tierney, Cathal O' Connor, Alan Byrne, Karl Bermingham, Philip Hughes, Sean Brennan( Darragh Hanaphy)

Subs not used: James Clarke, Dean McMahon, Stephen McCrossan, Niall Flynn, Stefan McKevitt, Shane Grimes.

FC Carlow :  Gavin Dowling, Alan Wren, James Dermody, Adam Byrne, Christopher Browne, Neale Phelan, Craig Hore, Lee Murphy(David Walker 71), Greg  Sykula, Emmet Phelan(Thomas Brennan), Andrew Hickey(Shane Clarke)

Subs not used: Fran Hore, Stephen Duncan.

Referee: Phil Caschera

FAI Match Official Paddy McGrath presents Monaghan United's Alan Byrne with the FAI Ford Cup Man of the Match award.