Geoghegan double sinks Monaghan

Two second half goals inside the space of seven minutes from Steven Geoghegan insured Shelbourne eased to a 3-1 victory over Monaghan United at Tolka Park last night.

Victory duly moved Dermot Keely's side into second place in the table and set them up perfectly for next week's clash with St Patrick's Athletic.

Having led after only 13 minutes when Dessie Baker converted brother Richie Baker's cross, Geoghegan was to insure the points with that second half double.

He scored his first, and Shelbourne's second just seven minutes after the re-start, tapping home a Richie Baker cross, while adding his second in the 59th minute, this time heading home Dessie Baker's perfect cross.

Monaghan's sole reply was a 72nd minute Ken Lundy strike, which was little more than a consolation, while the only blemish to Shelbourne's night was the 77th minute dismissal of full back Jonathan Minnock for a late lunge on Monaghan's Derek Gill.

The early warning signs certainly hadn't looked good for Monaghan. Inside the first six minutes Shelbourne could easily have scored twice. After only five minutes Minnock's long throw into the box was met by Richie Baker, whose well directed header forced the best out of United's keeper Robbie Forde. A minute later the unmarked Geoghegan got on the end of a Dessie Baker cross , but failed to find the target.

So it came as no surprise when Shelbourne opened the scoring after 13 minutes with Dessie Baker's opener.

Monaghan's Brian Mooney was unlucky not to have the sides level seven minutes later as he hit the crossbar from the edge of the box, but with Geoghegan's second half double, there was no way back for the visitors.

SHELBOURNE: Jones, Heary, Minnock, McCarthy, Hutton, Gannon, D Baker, Fenlon, D Byrne, Geoghegan, R Baker, Subs: B Byrne for R Baker(67 mins); Crawford for Gannon (75 mins); Doherty for D Baker (89 mins).

MONAGHAN UNITED: Forde, White, McCarville, Brunton, Scully, McGrath, Meier, Murphy, Vaughan, McKenna, Mooney. Subs: Lundy for Meier (56 mins); Gill for Scully (75 mins).

Referee: Hugo Whoriskey (Dublin).