Waterford United  1 - 3  Monaghan United

Waterford United were turned over once again by their nemesis Monaghan in the First Division play-off at the RSC tonight. The Northerners proved the stronger of the sides, and the Blues struggled to get their game going for much of the night, though the contest remained in the balance until six minutes from time, when a stunning free kick decided matters. 

A bumper crowd, at 1462 easily the largest of the season, saw the Blues take the field with just one change to last Saturday night’s side - Shane Barrett coming in for Gary Dunphy in a straight midfield swap - and they started brightly, a quick breakaway on four minutes involving Paul Murphy, Liam and John Kearney, setting the tone for the opening exchanges. Five minutes later Shane Barrett split the Monaghan defence to set Liam Kearney away, and his pinpoint cross was met with a firm Murphy header that Gabriel Sava had to backpedal to clutch under his crossbar. At the other end the visitors came close when Philly Hughes fed Sean Brennan, who profited from a Seamus Long slip to move in 1-on-1 against Kevin Burns, but the Blues netminder got out and down well to block the low shot. Six minutes later Burns was in action again, Hughes getting clear down the right and pulling his centre back for the in-rushing Don Tierney, who cracked in a low shot that had Burns at full stretch to beat away.

Waterford went closest yet through John Kearney on 25 minutes, at full stretch himself to meet a deep Murphy free kick at the back post, but his header flew just wide. And three minutes later the visitors made their hosts rue that missed chance, when Burns fumbled a Cathal O’Connor corner, allowing Aidan Lynch a free header at goal from six yards out. The first effort rebounded off the crossbar, but when it fell to the same player the second chance sailed into the far corner for the lead. Thereafter it was the Northerners who had the better of it, but it should have been all square on the stroke of half-time, a delightful Murphy through ball piercing the Monaghan defence, only for Sava to get out sharply, pulling off a wonderful save at the feet of Liam Kearney, as it remained 1-0 into the break.

Monaghan were quickest out of the blocks after half time, and should have extended their lead moments after the restart. Cathal O’Connor reacted best to the breakdown of a corner kick, his looping shot from the edge of the area clearing Kevin Burns to strike the crossbar. Brian Gartland volleyed the rebound goalwards, but his strike wasn’t clean and allowed Kevin Murray to clear off the line. The visitors didn’t take much longer to extend their lead though, as a sweeping move on 58 minutes saw Sean Brennan set Barry Clancy clear down the right, and his perfectly measured cross was met with a near post diving header from Philly Hughes, giving Burns no chance.

That goal stunned the home side, but for all that they were back in the game inside seven minutes. The lively Liam Kearney skipped into the Monaghan area and rifled in a shot to the top near corner that Gabriel Sava expertly clawed behind. From the resulting corner, Seamus Long sent a back post header goalwards, and Kearney got a flick to nick it home. As the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser, Willie John Kiely was almost in on 72 minutes, pouncing on a loose ball in the left of the Monaghan area, but Sava produced another outstanding save. Shortly afterwards Kiely had a big shout for a penalty waved away when Shane Grimes appeared to trip him just inside the area.

For all the Blues pressure in the closing stages, the game was decided at the other end with six minutes left on the clock, as an innocuous looking foul on Brennan gave Monaghan a 25 yard free kick, which Hughes swept to the top right corner, giving Burns no chance. In the minutes John Kearney fired just over after a driving run, and Liam Kearney forced an acrobatic save from Sava with a stunning volley, but it was to no avail. Indeed, the visitors almost added to their tally as they swept downfield on the break deep into stoppage time, Brennan seeing his attempted lob come back off the upright yet again. It mattered little to the Monaghan players, who now move on to face Bray Wanderers for a place in the Premier Division.

Waterford: Kevin Burns; Alan Carey, Seamus Long, Kevin Murray, Michael Coady; Timmy Purcell (Paul Walsh 70), Shane Barrett (John Hayes 85), John Kearney, Liam Kearney; Willie John Kiely, Paul Murphy – subs: Chris Konopka, Kevin Waters, Gary Dunphy

Goals: L Kearney 65

Booked: Barrett, Coady

Monaghan: Gabriel Sava, Conor McMahon, Shane Grimes, Aidan Lynch (Paul Whelan 69), Brian Gartland, Don Tierney, Cathal O’Connor, Alan Byrne, Sean Brennan, Philly Hughes, Barry Clancy – subs: David Quirke, Stephen McCrossan, Darragh Hanaphy, Ian McNeil

Goals: Lynch 28, Hughes 58, 84

Booked: Byrne

Referee: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal)