Monaghan United 0 Shamrock Rovers 0:ALTHOUGH SHAMROCK Rovers may feel somewhat frustrated this was an entertaining game and it could be said that Monaghan deserved their hard-earned point, for effort if nothing else.
Rovers dominated a tight first half, but while both sides created a few half-chances, neither goalkeeper was really tested.
Rovers were first out of the blocks in the second half but suffered a blow when Captain Ken Oman limped off with what looked like a hamstring pull. Afterwards Rovers upped the ante and from two consecutive corners sub Daryl Kavanagh came close, the second a brilliant header that Monaghan keeper Chris Bennion somehow pushed away.
Then on 68 minutes a superb 25-yard free kick from Killian Brennan crashed off Bennion’s right-hand post and bounced to safety with the keeper beaten.
The pressure continued and on 78 minutes Gary McCabe again came close for Rovers when he got on the end of a Brennan free kick but his effort hit the post. Gary Twigg went close with four minutes remaining, but his shot slipped just wide and United survived injury time to earn a point.
MONAGHAN UNITED: Bennion, Keegan (Collins 85), Byrne, Quinn, Raynor, McDonagh, Ryan, (Humphrey 56), Maher, Dunne (Griffiths 66), Marks, Whelan.
SHAMROCK ROVERS: Jansson, Gilbert, Powell, Sives, Oman, (Gartland 61), Rice, McCabe, Twigg, O’Neill (Greene 75), Brennan, Dennehy (Kavanagh 59).
Referee: D Hancock.
