Shelbourne 2 -1 Monaghan United

Monaghan United's proud year old record of being unbeaten on the road ended at Tolka Park in controversial circumstances. The travelling support felt that  three poor decisions by the officials were their undoing in the end. Indeed the omens didn't look good when a perusal of the official programme one noticed that two of the officials names were Rob

The game was scarcely two minutes old when United had created two goal chances, first up was Philly Hughes when he got behind the defence only to drag his shot wide of the foot of the upright and he turned provider when he sent Sean Brennan through only to be denied by the advancing keeper Dean Delaney. A minute later Brennan's involvement in the game would be ended by the first of the controversial decisions of the night. Brennan and Sean Byrne contested a clearance at mid-field both were fully committed in going for the ball which the United man won but in doing so connected with his opponents leg, unfortunately the referee deemed it a red card offence when a yellow! would have sufficed and United were down to ten men. Byrne had to be stretchered off and three minutes later United's disaster was confounded when David Cassidy struck the first of what would be his brace on the night. The ball was played forward and the United defence to a man stopped expecting the offside flag but unfortunately the lady who was assistant referee had a different understanding to the off-side rule, United's keeper Gabriel Sava was quickest to react and he advanced from his line only to be lobbed by Cassidy.  There followed United worst period of the game and on 31 minutes Cassidy had his second goal of the night the execution was similar to his first when he lobbed the keeper again the travelling support felt that it was well offside. With the advantage of the extra man Shelbourne was able to snuff out United's danger man Hughes by double man-marking him. Further pressure was put on United when both their wing backs were yellow carded an! d indeed Shane Grimes was probably fortunate not to receive a second yellow for a high boot challenge. Coming towards the end of the half United started to string the passes together and they had the better of the final 10 minutes.

In the second half United took up where they left off before the interval and indeed as the game progressed it was hard to believe that they were a man short they played much the better football of the two sides and had the better of the possession. The clear -it -anywhere attitude of the home side in the second half saw numerous balls kicked into the stands. United had a great opportunity of getting one back immediately after the break when a good move involving Mc. Mahon, Hughes and O' Connor saw the latter scruff his chance. An attempt by Shels Dinny Corcoran was forced over and this was immediately followed at the other end by a blistering strike from St! ephen Mc. Crossan. Then the goal scorer Cassidy had an attempt from the side line to get his third but it was a bit ambitious. Philly Hughes had a free from outside the area, he got it over the wall but the keeper was well positioned.

Monaghan United's manager Mick Cooke was absent due to a family occasion and the coach Pat Mc. Gibbon deputized. In the 67 minute mc. Gibbon demonstrated that United were capable of getting a result when he made a double attack mind substitution, Karl Bermingham came on for Conor Mc. Mahon and Aidan Collins replaced Cathal O' Connor. The move was beginning to prove positive and in the 75^th minute he reinforced it with the introduction of United's impact sub Darragh Hanaphy for Philly Hughes who had ran himself into the ground and three minutes later he had his dividend when Hanaphy got a goal back, an excellent ball by Barry Clancy towards the "D", Hanaphy ! outpaced everyone and he to poked the ball forward and it just had enough momentum to roll over the line.  United were now in the ascendancy and the Stand was a dangerous place to be with the number of clearances that were cleared into it by the home side. Shels were lucky not to concede an own goal when the ball hit the foot of the upright. Shels were holding on, the armature whistlers in the crowd were calling for the final whistle and weren't impressed when the 4^th. Official signalled 3 extra minutes. In the end the clock beat United.

The Monaghan supporters were disappointed with the final score but impressed with the performance special in the second half. Maybe there is something to Friday 13^th.

Shelbourne: Dean Delaney; Ray Scully, Ian Ryan, Gareth Whelan, Sean Byrne (Michael Coburn, 3); David Cassidy, Paul Shiels, David McGill, Marc Hughes (Colin O'Brien, 66); Philip Gorman, Dinny Corcoran (Mark Leech, 74).
Subs not used: Steve Williams, Brian Farrell.

Bookings: Cassidy (27), Hughes (45+4), Gorman (61).

Monaghan United: Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon (Karl Bermingham, 66), Alan Byrne, Brian Gartland, Conor Grimes; Barry Clancy, Don Tierney, Stephen Mc Crossan, Cathal O'Connor (Aidan Collins, 66); Sean Brennan, Philip Hughes (Darragh Hanaphy, 76).
Subs not used: Anthony Costigan, Paul Whelan.

Bookings: McMahon (16), Grimes (23), Mc Crossan (83).

Sending Off: Sean  Brennan (3).