Lack-lustre Blues beaten
Kenny Brown heading clear under pressure from Monaghan's Darragh Hanaphy. | Photos: Jim O'Sullivan
Waterford Utd 0; Monaghan Utd 2
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When Monaghan United visited the RSC in April they suffered a 6-0 drubbing but it was clear from the kick-off at the sparsely attended RSC on Friday night last that there was no chance of the visitors being caught napping this time around.
From the outset, Monaghan were sharper and quicker to the ball than the Blues and they got their reward with a shock goal after only seven minutes.
Barry Clancy lofted over a diagonal pass from the left wing and, from deep inside the area, Brian Gartland directed a superb, looping header over Michael Devine’s head into the far corner of the net.
Waterford were always playing catch-up after that but Monaghan soaked up any pressure that came their way and then accepted the gift of a second goal on 53 minutes.
A disastrous back pass from Kenny Browne was intercepted by David Freeman and, from eight yards, he calmly steered the ball wide of the goalkeeper into the far corner of the net.
Because of other results on the night, the loss of three points was not as disastrous for the Blues as it could have been. In fourth place, three points behind Sporting Fingal with a game in hand, there is still a very real possibility that Waterford will reach the play-offs.
For full story see our print edition.