AIRTRICITY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION Shelbourne 2 Monaghan Utd 1:A FIRST goal of the season for captain David Cassidy saw Shelbourne come from behind for only their second win in seven games. Cassidy got on the end of Anto Murphy's flick from a long clearance on 71 minutes to cleverly lob the advancing Michael Schlingermann in the Monaghan goal.
That finally turned the game Shelbourne’s way after they’d fallen behind early in the second half despite dominating the match. Following two defeats, Shelbourne manager Alan Mathews would have been pleased with his side’s first half possession and approach play as they were unlucky not to be a couple of goals ahead by the interval.
Aidan Collins first came to the visitors’ rescue as early as the second minute, hacking clear from Philip Hughes who’d followed up strike partner Philip Gorman’s header coming back off the crossbar.
Efforts from Brian Shortall, two from the influential Paddy Kavanagh, and Hughes peppered the Monaghan goal before the woodwork came to their assistance again on 43 minutes when Gorman headed against the bar.
But Monaghan grabbed a shock lead goal on 54 minutes. Jordan Keegan was clumsily bundled over by Seán Byrne and Willo McDonagh fired home the resultant penalty.
Shelbourne responded well and levelled seven minutes later. Hughes’s cross had Monaghan at sixes and sevens in the box and when Cassidy’s shot was deflected, Kavanagh was there to tap into the unguarded net.
SHELBOURNE: Delany; Matthews, Boyle, Shortall, S Byrne; Murphy (Sullivan, 84 mins), Cronin, Cassidy (Dawson, 90 mins), Kavanagh; Hughes, Gorman.
MONAGHAN UTD: Schlingermann; Whelan (Reynor, 21 mins), Shaun Maher, Collins, McMahon; McGuinness (Bayly, half-time), McDonagh, Stephen Maher, Keegan; Ryan (Humphrey, 76 mins); Murphy.
Referee: G Kelly(Cork).
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